Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 19-09-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 19-09-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. India-China Standoff 2020 – Ten patrolling points in eastern Ladakh blocked by Chinese – There are at least ten patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that have been blocked by Chinese troops. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed the Rajya Sabha that face-offs with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) happened because “patrols were interrupted”. There was no commonly delineated LAC, and there was an overlap with regard to the LAC’s perception in many areas, he noted. The patrolling points (PPs) are the end points along the undefined LAC, up to which Indian troops patrol after starting from their base camps. Since April, Indian troops have been denied access to PPs number 9, 10, 11, 12, 12A, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 17A. The blocked PPs span from the Depsang plains in the north to Pangong Tso (lake) in the south. In all, there are more than 65 PPs from the base of Karakoram to Chumar.
2. Constitution and Law – Delhi HC steps in to bridge digital divide – The Delhi High Court directed both private and government schools in the Capital to provide gadgets and Internet package free of cost to poor students for attending online classes, a verdict aimed at narrowing the COVID-19 pandemic-induced digital divide. A Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sanjeev Narula said if a school decides to opt for online mode as a medium of instruction, it will have to ensure that students belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged group (DG) category also have access and are able to avail of the same.
3. Polity and Governance – Farmer outfits call for ‘Bharat bandh’ on Sept. 25 – Several farmer outfits have announced an intensified agitation after the Centre passed three agriculture Bills in the ongoing monsoon session of the Lok Sabha. Over 250 farmer and farm worker organisations, under the umbrella of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), have given a call for a ‘Bharat bandh’ on September 25 in protest against the passing of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
4. COVID-19 Updates – Rajasthan sets price cap on COVID-19 treatment, tests – The Rajasthan govt has set a price cap on the diagnostic tests and treatment of COVID-19 at private hospitals and laboratories, while listing various medicines, investigations and other services and incorporating the charges for personal protective equipment (PPE) kit in the treatment packages. Medical & Health Minister Raghu Sharma said here that the decision was taken amid reports that private hospitals were charging an exorbitant fee for treatment. While the rate of RT-PCR tests at private laboratories for diagnosis of COVID-19 was fixed at ₹1,200, the cost of treatment was fixed on the basis of accreditation of hospitals by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). According to a notification which has replaced a previous order of June 20, the charges for treatment have been kept at ₹5,000 to ₹9,000 per day in hospitals not certified by the NABL.
5. Polity and Governance – RS passes Bill to slash salaries of MPs – The Bill to reduce the salaries of parliamentarians by 30% for one year to meet the exigencies arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic was cleared by Rajya Sabha even as the govt came under a sharp attack from the Opposition for not cutting down on “luxuries” like the Central Vista redevelopment project and construction of a new Parliament building. Lok Sabha had passed the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 bill earlier this week. It will replace the Salary, Allowances And Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, that was cleared by the Cabinet on April 6 and promulgated the next day.
6. World – China sends fighters towards Taiwan – While tensions remain high and a military build-up continues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, China has ratcheted up tensions on its eastern front, with 18 Chinese fighters and bombers crossing the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait and flying towards Taiwan in a major show of military force. The combat drills on Friday were aimed to coincide with the visit to Taiwan of U.S. Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach, the most senior official to visit the island in four decades. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command said in a statement on Friday that “combat-ready patrols and joint air-sea exercises in the Taiwan Straits” were held “to test the joint operations capability of multiservices”.
7. India and its neighbourhood – Attacks surge in northwest Pakistan as Afghan peace effort brings shifting sands – Militants have stepped up attacks on security forces in northwest Pakistan raising fears of a revival of their insurgency and a return of lawlessness as brighter prospects for peace in Afghanistan herald shifting Islamist alliances.
8. World – U.S. to ban WeChat & TikTok, cites privacy, national security – The U.S. will ban the downloads of the Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat, with a total ban on the use of the latter, citing national security and data privacy concerns. A total ban on the use of TikTok will follow on Nov 12, but Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said early Friday on Fox Business Network that access to that app may be possible if certain safeguards are put into place. The government said its order will “combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data.” The order also raises questions about California tech giant Oracle’s recent deal to take over U.S. operations of TikTok, a requirement by the Trump administration for the app to continue operating in the U.S.
9. Society – 60% Indian kids go to school on foot: Survey – Around 60% of students in India go to school on foot with the number being significantly higher in rural areas and among primary and upper primary students. Overall, more girls walk to school (62%) than boys (57.9%). The second most preferred mode of travel is public transport (12.4%), followed by bicycle (11.3%), according to the NSO’s latest report on education, reports Manash Pratim Gohain. The report says threefourth of the primary and upper-primary students travel by foot, which comes down significantly in the secondary and above levels. Bicycles are a mode of transport for more than one fourth of students in secondary and senior secondary schools.
10. Business World  – Row erupts as Google app store drops Paytm, then brings it back – High drama unfolded as search engine giant Google removed mobile payment application Paytm from its Play Store, citing breach of its gambling restrictions, before bringing it back again by evening. Paytm's fantasy gaming application was also removed ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and was not back till the filing of this report. The removal of Paytm’s application, which takes away the ability to get new users, elicited widespread disapproval among India’s startup ecosystem as the USbased technology giant’s unit Google Pay competes with it in India. In the promo, a user who collects five stickers is entitled to a cashback.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	SBI	Specialist Cadre Officer	92	BE/ B.Tech/ M Tech, PG, Ph.D	08-10-2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/09/Notification-SBI-Specialist-Cadre-Officer-Advt-No.-21-2020-21.pdf
2	NPTI	Assistant Director	6	Degree (Engg)	NOV-17-2020	http://npti.gov.in/sites/default/files/careers_document/Appointment%20for%20Various%20Posts%20in%20NPTI_0.pdf
3	Rehabilitation Council of India	Controller, Dy Controller, Consultant, Section Officer	14	PG	--	http://rehabcouncil.nic.in/writereaddata/Cont_Engagement_Notice010920.pdf
4	Sports Authority of India	Catering Manager	5	Degree	SEP-30-2020	https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/tview3.asp?link_temp_id=10895
5	ARI, Pune	Project Administrative Assistant	5	Any Degree with Typing Speed	27-09-2020	http://aripune.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Advt-Proj-Adm-Asst.pdf
6	IHBT	Project Scientist I, II, Sr Project Associate, Project Associate I, II	25	B.Tech, PG, Ph.D	OCT-10-2020	https://www.ihbt.res.in/components/com_chronoforms5/chronoforms/uploads/Recruitment/20200916182913_Advt._14_by_2020.pdf
7	AIIMS, New Delhi	Computer Operator, DEO, Lab Attendant, Scientist B, SRF	7	B. Pharm, Degree, PG, Ph.D	01-10-2020	https://www.aiims.edu/images/pdf/recruitment/advertisement/biochem-17-9-20.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 OECD raises prospects for global economy, scales them down for India

 

• Key points –

1. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expects India’s economy to shrink 10.2 per cent in the current financial year (FY21) against its earlier estimate of 3.7-7.3 per cent, owing to extended lockdowns to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. However, the Paris-based institution expects the world economy to fare better, with a 4.5 per cent fall in 2020, against its earlier prediction of 6 per cent. Besides India, the OECD expects five economies — South Africa, Argentina, the UK, Mexico and Italy — to witness a double-digit fall.
3. China is the only G20 country whose economy is projected to rise in 2020, helped by the earlier timing of the virus outbreak, rapid control of the virus and the policy support provided to enable a quick rebound in activity.
4. While most economies contracted in the second quarter of 2020, the Chinese economy grew by 3.2 %.

• Future outlook –

1. In its latest economic outlook, the OECD attributed its decision on India to “the prolonged spread of the virus, high levels of poverty and informality, and stricter confinement measures for an extended period”.
2. It said high public debt and contingent liabilities, or a low tax base, constrain the use of fiscal policy to support growth and incomes of vulnerable groups in India.
3. The government had announced a Rs 20-trillion stimulus package in May to provide relief to various sectors under its Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) package. However, experts estimated its fiscal cost at Rs 1.5-2 trillion as most of the schemes had already been announced.
4. Industry expects the government to come out with another package to stimulate demand after first-quarter data showed a severe fall in GDP. The Centre’s fiscal deficit has already crossed the budgeted level by July.
5. After the Rs 1.67-trillion supplementary demand for grants tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament, experts believe the government’s fiscal deficit will reach 7.4-8.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in FY21, against the Budget Estimate of 3.5 per cent.
6. This shifts the burden of economic stabilisation to monetary policy, but the OECD said rising inflationary pressures and concerns about financial stability in some of the emerging market economies, particularly India, limit central banks’ room to cushion economic activity from the Covid-19 shock.
7. The RBI has cut its policy rate repo by 135 points since the onset of Covid-19. However, for the next year the OECD projects India’s economy to grow 10.7 per cent, 2.8 percentage-point higher than the June forecast.
8. In June, the OECD had projected India’s economy to contract 7.3 per cent in FY21 if there is a second wave of Covid-19 later this year. If there is no second wave, the grouping of advanced countries — in its OECD Economic Outlook — expected the economy to contract 3.7 per cent during the year.
9. The OECD is not alone in raising its projection for contraction of India’s economy. For instance, Fitch now expected the country’s GDP to contract 10.5 per cent in FY21 versus its earlier estimate of 5 %.
10. India Ratings, the Indian subsidiary of Fitch, predicted a sharper fall of 11.8 per cent against 5.3 per cent estimated earlier. Goldman Sachs forecast a 14.8 per cent contraction, against the 11.8 per cent.
11. India’s GDP fell by a record 23.9 per cent in the first quarter, beating the average analyst expectation of 18-20 per cent fall.

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

3.1 World Ozone Day 2020

• Key points –

1. September 16 is celebrated as World Ozone Day across the world to aware people about the depletion of the Ozone Layer and its impact on life.
2. The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere, although still small in relation to other gases in the stratosphere.
3. It is widely held true that life without the ozone layer is not possible as it absorbs most (about 97-99%) of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, which otherwise would potentially damage exposed life forms near the surface.
4. What is the ozone layer and why is it important –
5. The ozone layer contains less than 10 parts per million of ozone gas, while the average ozone concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is about 0.3 parts per million. This way, it absorbs about 97-99% of the sun's harmful ultraviolet light rays, which otherwise would severely deter life on Earth as we know it.
6. The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately 15 to 35 kilometers (9.3 to 21.7 mi) above Earth, although its thickness varies seasonally and geographically.

• Why is a World Ozone Day required –

1. In 1976, atmospheric research revealed that the ozone layer was being depleted by chemicals released by industry, mainly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
2. Concerns that increased UV radiation due to ozone depletion threatened life on Earth, including increased skin cancer in humans and other ecological problems, led to bans on the chemicals, and the latest evidence is that ozone depletion has slowed or stopped.
3. Therefore, the United Nations General Assembly has designated September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
4. World Ozone Day announced December 19, 1994 –
5. On December 19, 1994, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
6. The date was chosen for commemorating the same date in 1987 when 45 countries at the United Nations had signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
7. The Montreal Protocol aims to protect the ozone layer by reducing the production of substances responsible for ozone depletion. As a result of the international agreement, the ozone hole in Antarctica is slowly recovering.

• 'Ozone for Life' –

1. 'Ozone for Life' is the slogan for World Ozone Day 2020. This year we celebrate 35 years of global ozone layer protection. This slogan reminds us that the ozone layer is extremely important for life on Earth to sustain and we must continue to protect the ozone layer for our future generations as well.

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

4.1 Israel, UAE, Baharain sign Peace Accord

 

• Key point –  

1. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 15) hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for the signing of the historic Abraham Accord, which is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.

• Highlights –

1. The Arab Accord — essentially bilateral agreements with Israel — does not mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2. The US President pointed out that these were the only two peace deals between Israel and the Arab States in more than a quarter of a century. Egypt was the first Arab State to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Jordon signed a peace pact in 1994.
3. As per the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain will establish embassies, exchange ambassadors, cooperate and work together with Israel across a range of sectors, including tourism, trade, healthcare and security.

• Pivot of history –

1. Netanyahu described the accord as a “pivot of history”, heralding a new dawn.
2. PM Netanyahu said Israel is eager to invest in a future of prosperity, and peace.

• A change in the Middle-East –

1. Foreign Minister Zayed said the UAE is witnessing a change in the Middle-East, one that gives hope around the world.
2. This peace accord which is a historic achievement for the United States of America, the state of Israel and the United Arab Emirates will continue to have a positive impact as the officials believe that its reverberations will be reflected on the entire region, every option other than peace would signify destruction, poverty, and human suffering.

• Road to lasting security and prosperity –

1. Foreign Minister Zayani said peace between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel is a step on the road to genuine and lasting security and prosperity.
2. Soon after the signing, the White House, in a statement, said the deal will strengthen peace in the region, giving Muslims increased access to the Al Aqsa Mosque. This will counter the extremists who use the false narrative that the Al Aqsa Mosque is under attack and that Muslims cannot pray at this holy site.
3. The deal between the UAE and Israel represented a significant breakthrough in diplomatic relations between the two nations as the Trump administration works to facilitate cooperation between Arab nations and Israel.
4. Trump, seeking re-election in the November 3 presidential election against his Democratic Party rival, Joe Biden, is hoping that the two major diplomatic deals would help him in the polls.

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

5.1 PM Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19 extended for 180 days

• Key points –  

1. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday (September 15, 2020) extended the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme' for health workers fighting COVID-19 for another 180 days.
2. The scheme was announced on March 30, 2020, for a period of 90 days and was further extended for 90 days up to September 25.

• Important details –

1. This Central Sector Scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and therefore at risk of being infected.
2. It also includes accidental loss of life on account of contracting coronavirus.
3. The scheme also covers private hospital staff, retired, volunteer, local urban bodies, contract, daily-wage, ad-hoc, outsourced staff requisitioned by States or Central hospitals and autonomous hospitals of central, states, UTs, AIIMS and INI hospitals of Central Ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities.
4. The insurance provided under this scheme is over and above any other insurance cover being availed of by the beneficiary.
5. Notably, there is no age limit for this scheme and individual enrolment is not required. The entire amount of premium for this scheme is being borne by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
6. As per a report, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has collaborated with the New India Assurance (NIA) Company Limited for providing the insurance amount based on the guidelines prepared for the scheme.
7. Till date, a total of 61 claims have been processed and paid under the scheme, while, 156 claims are under examination by NIA and in 67 cases claims, forms are yet to be submitted by the States.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Tata Projects wins bid to construct new Parliament building for Rs. 861.90 crore

 

• Key points –
  

1. Tata Projects Limited has won the bid to construct a new parliament building at a cost of Rs 861.90 crore.
2. The new building will be constructed close to the existing one under the Central Vista redevelopment project.
3. It is expected to be completed in 21 months from the start of construction work. However, a decision on starting the construction work has not been taken yet.

• Highlights –

1. L&T Ltd had submitted a bid of Rs 865 crore. But Tata Projects Ltd was the lowest bidder.
2. The redevelopment project of Central Vista — the nation's power corridor — envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, and revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath, from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.
3. The new building will come up at plot number 118 of the Parliament House Estate.
4. More MPs can be accommodated in the new building as the strength of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may increase after the delimitation of constituencies. It will have spacious seating arrangements for around 1,400 MPs. The building will be a reinforced cement concrete framed structure.
5. According to CPWD, the existing parliament building will continue to function during the entire period of execution of the project. Once the new building is built, the existing parliament building will be used for other purposes.
6. The total plinth area of the proposed building is approximately 65,000 sqm, including the basement area of approximately 16,921 sqm. The building will be ground plus two-storeyed with one basement.
7. Under the Central Vista redevelopment project, the prime minister's residence and office are likely to be shifted near the South Block and the vice-president's new house will be in the vicinity of the North Block.
8. According to the plan, the vice president's current residence is among those buildings identified by the government for demolition in Lutyens' Delhi for the purpose of the project.
9. There are plans to covert the North and South Blocks, which symbolise the government's authority since their inception in Lutyens' Delhi, into museums.
10. Gujarat-based architecture firm HCP Designs has designed the Central Vista redevelopment project. The firm has the responsibility of preparing the master plan of the project, including designs landscape and traffic integration plans, and parking facilities among others.
11. The government is likely to demolish buildings such as Udyog Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan to facilitate the new Central Secretariat which will house offices of several ministries.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Lok Sabha passes bill to bring co-operative banks under RBI supervision 

• Key points –

1. Protecting depositors’ interests, the Lok Sabha has passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to bring co-operative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
2. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured the House that the legislation empowers the central bank to regulate only the banking activities of co-operatives and it is not applicable to a primary agricultural credit society or a co-operative society providing finance for agricultural development.
3. This Bill also empowers RBI to effectively handle mishaps in private banks without any loss of public confidence or disruption to the financial system.

• Important details –

1. Sitharaman highlighted that in the last two decades as many as 430 cooperative societies have been de-licensed and liquidated. However, not a single commercial bank under RBI supervision under the Banking Regulation Act had gone into liquidation in the last two decades.
2. Sitharaman also made it clear that the Centre was not encroaching into the terrain of the States and was only using its powers under Items 43 and 45 in the Union List of the Constitution to enact this law.
3. This Bill is in exercise of the powers vested under the Union List item and therefore consultation with States is not necessary. Consultation with States is required only on those in the concurrent list.
4. Sitharaman said that the Centre had to promulgate an ordinance in June as it was felt that the Covid-19 pandemic could make the already weak cooperative banks more “fragile” and this had to be avoided.

7.2 Weekly Round-up

• Govt. makes available 'on-demand' Covid testing without prescription - For the first time, the Union Health Ministry has allowed on-demand COVID-19 testing without a prescription. The new advisory has been made on the recommendations of the National Task Force on the novel coronavirus.
• Parole, furlough not absolute right of prisoners: Union Home Ministry - The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on September 4, 2020 the release of prisoners on parole and furlough is not an absolute right and should be on the basis of well-defined norms of eligibility, and directed states that those involved in terrorism and other heinous crimes should not be allowed to go out of jails.
• ‘The State of Young Child in India’ report of Mobile Creches released - Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on September 4, 2020 released ‘The State of Young Child in India’ report that has been prepared by Mobile Creches a policy advocacy organisation which works with the underprivileged children across India.
• National Tribal Research Conclave held on Sept 3-4 - The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) organized ‘National Tribal Research Conclave’ through virtual platform on September 3-4, 2020. The conclave was chaired by the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda.
• National Institute of Tribal Research to be set up at IIPA campus in Delhi - An agreement was signed on September 4, 2020 between Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi for setting up of National Institute of Tribal Research (NITR) at the IIPA campus, New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda.
• BJP’s Syed Zafar Alam elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from UP - BJP candidate Syed Zafar Alam was on September 4, 2020 elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. The seat fell vacant following the death of Amar Singh in Singapore on August 1.
• Kshatrapati Shivaji appointed as the chief statistician of India - The government of India has appointed bureaucrat Kshatrapati Shivaji as the secretary in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) from September 1. The secretary at MoSPI, by design, known as the chief statistician of India.
• India’s first female cardiologist, Dr S. I. Padmavati, dies at 103 - India’s first female cardiologist, Dr S. I. Padmavati, passed away on August 29, 2020 due to Covid-19 at the age of 103 in New Delhi. Dr S Padmavati founded the All India Heart Foundation in 1962 and the National Heart Institute, New Delhi in 1981. She won the Padma Bhushan in 1967 and Padma Vibhushan in 1992.
• ASI declares site and remains at Sadikpur Sinauli in UP of national importance - The archaeological site and remains at Sadikpur Sinauli in UP’s Baghpat district where evidence of the existence of a warrior class around 2,000 BCE was discovered in 2018 have been declared to be of “national importance” by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ASI’s notification under provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi added to J&K’s official languages list -  The Union Cabinet on September 3, 2020 approved a Bill to include Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi as official languages in the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Only English and Urdu were official languages in the former State.
• Assam govt re-launches SVAYEM scheme for self-employment of youth - The Assam government re-launched a scheme to provide self-employment to around 2 lakh youths of the state. Known as Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM), it would provide 50 thousand rupees each as seed money to selected youths to start business ventures.

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

8.1 Parliament nod to Bill for giving ‘national importance’ tag to Gujarat Ayurveda institutes

•  Key points –

1. Parliament has passed a bill to accord the status of an institution of national importance to a Jamnagar-based cluster of Ayurveda institutes.
2. The Bill - ‘The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020’ - was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha.

• Highlights –

1. Lok Sabha has already approved the bill in the last session, in which three Jamnagar, Gujarat-based institutes – Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gulabkunwerba Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and Institute of Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Sciences – would be conglomerated.
2. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan expressed appreciation for Ayurveda and its usefulness for the society and also for strengthening the healthcare systems of the world.
3. He said that Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine in the country with so much of traditional wisdom attached. Under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the government has approved ₹ 4000 crore for cultivation of medicinal plants and supporting farmers.
4. He said the selection of the Jamnagar institute was not “arbitrary” but it was chosen in a most objective manner being one of the oldest institutes under the category, established in 1956.
5. It was the oldest collaborating centre with WHO in Ayurveda and has imparted training to students from 65 countries in 20 years. The institute has inked 30 pacts with different countries in the last 20 years.
6. The proposed institute would have a 15-member committee including the Minister of Ayush, Secretary of Ayush and Secretary of Health & Family Welfare of the Gujarat Government, along with three MPs in which two would be from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha.

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

9.1 Weekly Round-up

 

 

• Highlights –

• IISc researchers develop low-cost, on demand printing technique - The researchers at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering in the Bengaluru based Indian Institute of Science have developed a low cost, on demand printing technique. This new technique replaces the nozzles of an inkjet printer with a mesh covered chemically treated nano wires that repel water.
• Because of the short contact time of the impacting droplet with the mesh, the chances of clogging the pore are minimised. The mesh can also be easily cleaned and reused. This is useful for 3D printing of living cells, ceramic materials, electronic circuits and machine components.
• The new technique reduces the operational cost of the printer.  The capability to print a wide range of droplet sizes while using this application makes the new technique of printing unique.
• Indian Astronomers discover one of the farthest Star galaxies in the universe - As a landmark achievement in Space missions, Indian Astronomers have discovered one of the farthest Star galaxies in the universe. Sharing this information, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, that India’s first Multi-Wavelength Space Observatory "AstroSat" has detected extreme-UV light from a galaxy located 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth. The galaxy called AUDFs01 was discovered by a team of astronomers from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) Pune.
• China’s first reusable spacecraft lands after test flight - China’s first reusable spacecraft landed on September 6, 2020 after two days in orbit, a possible step toward lower-cost space flight, the government announced. The craft was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China’s desert northwest. It landed as planned at Jiuquan.
• Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe: Lancet - The two-shot vaccine being developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute generated a strong immune response and didn’t produce serious adverse reactions in the 76 volunteers who were inoculated in a trial, according to results of a study reported online in The Lancet on September 4, 2020. This is the first time that details of the early human studies — or Phase-1/2 trials, to check the vaccine’s safety and ability to generate an immune response — of the vaccines have been reported in a peer-reviewed journal. In August 2020, Russian scientists said they had begun Phase-3 trials of their vaccine in 40,000 volunteers, results of which are likely to be publicly known by November.

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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 -

• Switzerland was ranked first among 131 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2020 released by the WIPO, INSEAD and Cornell University recently.
• Satya Pal Malik was appointed new Governor of Meghalaya.
• Jorge Chediek is the Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
• The India-funded Science block building of Alipur Rahmania School and College in Chattogram, Bangladesh was inaugurated in July 2020.
• Asian Development Bank has appointed Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa as vice-president.

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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