Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 25-09-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 25-09-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Defence – ‘If PLA comes close, our troops can fire’ – Shots have been fired in the air on multiple occasions on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh recently, and the Chinese have been given a clear message that pushing back Indian soldiers physically will not work any more, a senior government official said. Stating that once a melee happens, like the Galwan clash on June 15, opening fire was not possible, the official pointed out, “Now, we said, if you come close we will fire. Distance is dependent on the conditions like day or night, location and so on... If they are about to be overrun or in self-defence, troops are authorised to fire.”.
2. COVID-19 Updates – As daily tests drop, active cases fall but positivity rate rises – The seven-day average growth rate in active cases of Covid-19 in India has slipped into the negative, helped by recoveries exceeding daily new cases for last six consecutive days. It indicates a decline in the actual caseload of the infection, even as a drop in average daily tests through the week has raised concerns. The seven-day average growth rate in active cases was -0.6% for the Sept 17-23 period. However, active cases in the country rose again on Thursday, breaking a sixday declining trend. Lower testing numbers have also resulted in a rise in the positivity rate — the percentage of positive cases in total tests. The positivity rate in the first three days of the week was 9.3%, as opposed to 8.7% in the previous two weeks, pointing to the need to ramp up testing.
3. Awards and Honours – Jnanpith presented to Malayalam ‘Mahakavi’ Akkitham – Malayalam literature witnessed a golden moment when the Jnanpith award announced in November last year was handed over to poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri at a special function held at his house at Kumaranallur in the district. Minister for Cultural Affairs A.K. Balan presented the Jnanpith, the country’s highest literary award, to Akkitham. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the function through videoconferencing. Kerala and Malayalis across the world had celebrated it when Akkitham became the sixth writer to bring Jnanpith to Malayalam literature in November last year. The COVID-19 lockdown delayed the award ceremony.
4. CAA Protests and Violence – Eminent people call for Umar Khalid’s release – A group of eminent academics, writers, filmmakers and artistes from around the world, including Noam Chomsky, Salman Rushdie and Mira Nair, on Thursday called for the release of former JNU students’ leader and activist Umar Khalid, who was arrested in connection with the February riots in Delhi. Mr. Khalid had been charged with sedition, conspiracy to murder, and under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
5. Defence  – IAF bought uncertified UAV engines at inflated prices: CAG – The Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) has recommended an investigation into the purchase of five Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) engines in 2010 by the Indian Air Force, noting that the same engines were purchased by a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory at almost one-third the price two years later, resulting in an undue gain for the vendor of ₹3.16 crore. The CAG recommended “fixing of responsibility for wrongful supply and acceptance of mislabelled engines by the IAF”. “Israel Aircraft Industries [IAI] Ltd. gained an undue benefit of ₹3.16 crore as it supplied five UAV engines at more than three times the market price.”
6. World – 380 ‘detention camps’ in Xinjiang: report – China is running hundreds of detention centres in northwest Xinjiang across a network that is much bigger than previously thought, according to research presented on Thursday by an Australian think tank. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said it had identified more than 380 “suspected detention facilities” in the region, where China is believed to have held more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking residents. The number of facilities is around 40% greater than previous estimates, the research said, and has been growing despite China's claims that many Uighurs have been released. Using satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, media reports and official construction tender documents, the institute said “at least 61 detention sites have seen new construction and expansion work between July 2019 and July 2020”.
7. World – Enormous divisions on UNSC expansion reforms need package solution, says China – China, which has been stonewalling India’s entry into the UN Security Council, on Thursday said there were “enormous divisions” on reforms to expand the premier body of the United Nations and expressed its willingness to work for a “package solution” that can accommodate interests and concerns of all parties. The G4 grouping comprising India, Japan, Germany and Brazil on Wednesday expressed their concern over lack of any “meaningful” forward movement on long-pending reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and demanded “urgency” on the issue. The foreign ministers of the G4 countries, including EAM, held a virtual meeting coinciding with the 75th session of the UNGA.
8. World – Navalny out of German hospital – Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a Berlin hospital after over a month’s treatment for poisoning, with doctors now believing that a complete recovery from the Soviet-era nerve agent is possible for him. Mr. Navalny spent 32 days at Berlin’s Charite hospital, 24 of them in intensive care, before doctors deemed his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care. After his release, Mr. Navalny, in an Instagram post, took a swipe at Russian President Vladimir Putin, scoffing at reported comments by the Russian leader, suggesting that Mr. Navalny might have intentionally poisoned himself.
9. World – Trailblazing journalist Harold Evans dead at 92 – Sir Harold Evans, a British-American Editor whose 70-year career as a hard-driving investigative journalist, magazine founder, book publisher and author made him one of the most influential media figures of his generation, died at the age of 92. Evans died of congestive heart failure in New York. A former editor of Britain’s Sunday Times and, at his death, Reuters editor-at-large, Evans put a unique stamp on investigative journalism. Championing causes either overlooked or denied, he and his team uncovered human rights abuses and political scandals, and advocated for clean air policies. Evans received one of the highest honours of the British monarchy when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2004 for his services to British journalism. He penned several books, including The American Century and its sequel They Made America, as well as an ode to good writing called Do I Make Myself Clear?.
10. Business  – Harley shuts India factory, sales – Harley-Davidson Inc. has announced that it will discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India and shed about 70 jobs in the country as part of a global strategic restructuring plan ‘The Rewire’. Harley’s decision to exit one of the world’s largest markets for two-wheelers — domestic motorcycle and scooter sales in the 12 months ended March 2020 exceeded 17 million units — follows a struggle to find takers for its bikes, including the Street, which saw it register sale of less than 2,500 units in the last financial year. The U.S. company’s decision to exit manufacturing also undermines the government’s efforts to attract and retain global manufacturers as it aims to woo investment from firms looking to exit China.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Indian Air Force	Airmen (Group X – Technical) (Bihar)	-	Diploma (Engg)	NOV-28-2020	https://airmenselection.cdac.in/CASB/img/upcoming/BIHTA%20(PATNA)%20RALLY%20GP%20'X'.pdf
2	Punjab National Bank	Faculty, Office Assistant, Attendant	10	BSW/ B.Com, MSW/ MA	OCT-7-2020	https://www.pnbindia.in/downloadprocess.aspx?fid=fThRypyrGRnAzqfiPLD9/g==
3	NABCONS	Team leader, System Administrator	6	Any Degree, PG, Ph.D	OCT-10-2020	http://www.nabcons.com/downloads/Advertisement-RSC-001.pdf
4	RITES Ltd	Manager & Assistant Manager	8	BE/ B.Tech/ M Sc (IT/ CS)	OCY-13-2020	https://rites.com/web/images/stories/uploadVacancy/VC%20NO%2007-09_20%20Mgr%20AM%20IT%20Contractual%20AD.pdf
5	RIMS, Imphal	OT Tech., Lab Tech. & Supervisor (Civil)	20	Degree (Civil Engg.)	NOV-26-2020	http://www.rims.edu.in/secure/wp-content/uploads/Advertisement-22-9-2020.pdf
6	IMMT	Project Assistant, Project Associate I, II	8	Diploma, B.Sc, B.E/ B.Tech	OCT-5-2020	https://www.immt.res.in/webroot/upload/admin/announcement/2020-09-22_announcement_img_1600780623.pdf
7	DRDO- DFRL	Graduate, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice	15	Diploma, B.E/ B.Tech, B.Sc	OCT-14-2020	https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/career-vacancy-documents/Publication_Advt__Apprentice.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 Not Available Today

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

3.1 World Rhino Day 2020

 

1.  Key points –  

1. Every year on September 22, the world celebrates World Rhinoceros Day. The day intends to celebrate rhinos across the world in unique ways.
2. The World Rhinoceros Day was announced by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2010.
3. Meant for Asian and African species of rhinoceros, the day celebrates the animal and encourages people to take steps for its conservation.
4. One of the five rhinoceros species living in Africa and Asia have been declared 'critically endangered'. These species are- Javan Rhinos, Sumatran rhinos and black rhinos.
5. The White Rhinos have been declared 'near threatened' while one-horned rhinos are said to be vulnerable to extinction. Over the years, the number of one-horned rhino has increased in the country due to constant efforts made by NGOs and wildlife bodies.

• Interesting facts about rhinoceros –

1. Rhinos have very poor eyesight. However, their poor eyesight in compensated by other senses. Rhinos can smell and hear people even when they are 30 metres away.
2. Rhino horn comprises keratin. Keratin is a protein which forms the basis of human hair and nails.
3. The African rhinoceros has a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers. The bird sits on the back of rhinos and eats ticks. The bird also raises an alarm when it senses danger.
4. A group of rhinoceros is referred to as a crash. Male rhinos are called bulls while females are called cows.

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

4.1 Weekly Round-up – Foreign Affairs I

 

1. Bangladesh launches campaign against fake information, rumours - The Bangladesh government on September 8, 2020 launched a campaign named ‘Asol Chini’ or ‘real-sugar’ to create digital literacy to create awareness to stop fake information and rumours.
2. Iran holding naval exercise ‘Zolfaghar-99’ in the Gulf of Oman - Iran’s army began an annual three-day naval exercise dubbed as Zolfaghar-99 near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on September 10, 2020. The navy, air force and ground forces are participating in the manoeuvre in the Gulf of Oman.
3. International Literacy Day celebrated on September 8 - International Literacy Day was celebrated on September 8, 2020. This year, the focus is on - “Literacy, teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond”. The theme highlights literacy learning in a lifelong learning perspective.
4. International Day to Protect Education from Attack observed on September 9 - The International Day to Protect Education from Attack was observed by the UN on September 9, 2020. The Day draws attention to the plight of more than 75 million 3-to-18-year-olds living in 35 crisis-affected countries and to their urgent need of educational support.
5. Japan’s Defence Minister calls for increased cooperation in India-Pacific region - Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono has called for increased cooperation in the India-Pacific region to counter Chinese expansion. He as speaking at a webinar held by Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies in Tokyo.
6. The International Day for South-South Cooperation observed on September 12 - The International Day for South-South Cooperation was observed by the UN on September 12, 2020.
7. UNICEF to lead global procurement and supply of coronavirus vaccines - In what could possibly be the world’s largest and fastest ever operation of its kind, UNICEF has announced that it will be leading the procurement and supply of coronavirus vaccines to ensure that all countries have safe, fast and equitable access to initial doses when they are available.
8. UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation effective - The Singapore Convention on Mediation came into force on September 12, 2020. Its objective is to provide a more effective way for enforcing mediated settlements of corporate disputes involving businesses in India and other countries that are signatories to the Convention. Also known as the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, this is also the first UN treaty to be named after Singapore. As on September 1, the Convention has 53 signatories, including India, China and the U.S.
9. US signs defence cooperation deal with Maldives - The US has signed a framework for defence cooperation with the Maldives to deepen engagement in support of maintaining peace and security in the strategic Indian Ocean. It was signed on September 10 by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Reed Werner and Maldivian Minister of Defence Mariya Didi.
10. Valdis Dombrovskis named new EU trade commissioner - Valdis Dombrovskis, one of the European Union’s top economic policy makers, was on September 8, 2020 appointed as the trade commissioner of the European Union in a leadership reshuffle prompted by the resignation of Phil Hogan in August 2020. Dombrovskis is former prime minister of Latvia.
11. World Suicide Prevention Day observed September 10 - Twitter India started an initiative aimed at spreading awareness and encouraging action to prevent suicide and self-harm on World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2020. The day is observed every year on September 10 by World Health Organization in association with International Association for Suicide Prevention.

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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 - Sports

 

1. US Open tennis held in New York - Austria’s Dominic Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev of Germany 2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(8–6) in the final to win the men’s singles title at the US Open tennis in New York on September 13, 2020.  Japan’s Naomi Osaka defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final to win the women’s singles title. Men’s Doubles title was won by Croatia’s Mate Pavić & Brazil’s Bruno Soares who beat Wesley Koolhof (Neth
2. erlands) and Nikola Mektić (Croatia) in the final 7–5, 6–3. Women’s Doubles was won by Germany’s Laura Siegemund & Russia’s Vera Zvonareva who beat Nicole Melichar of United States and Xu Yifan of China 6–4, 6–4 in the final.
3. Tennis: Djokovic disqualified from US Open after hitting line judge with ball - World No: 1 ranked men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified from the US Open on September 6, 2020 after striking a female line official with a ball in a fourth-round match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta. When he went down 5-6 in the first set, Djokovic pulled a ball out of his pocket and threw at the official.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo surpasses 100 international goals - Cristiano Ronaldo made history in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Sweden on September 8, 2020, as the legendary footballer became the first European to score 100 international goals with the first of his two goals in the UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo is only outscored by Iran’s Ali Daei with 109 international goals.   
5. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju holds online meeting with WADA President - Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju had an online meeting with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka on September 8, 2020 and reiterated India’s commitment towards promoting Clean Sports.
6. Trinbago Knight Riders claim CPL title - Trinbago Knight Riders lifted the Caribbean Premier League title with an eight-wicket victory over St. Lucia Zouks in the final played at Tarouba on September 10, 2020. Chasing a target of 155, TKR won with 11 balls to spare as Lendl Simmons (84, 49b, 8x4, 4x6) and Darren Bravo (58, 47b, 2x4, 6x6) added 138 runs for the unbroken third wicket.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Parliament passes bill giving national importance tag to five new IIITs

• Key points –

1. Parliament has passed a legislation to declare the five new IIITs in Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala and Raichur as institutes of national importance, enabling them to award degrees.
2. The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, was introduced in Rajya Sabha by Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on September 21. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha in March.
3. Nishank said there are 25 IIITs in the country, of which five are run by the Union government and 15 operate under the public-private-partnership model.
4. On making India an education hub, Nishank said more than 1,000 students from ASEAN countries come for research in IITs.
5. The bill amends the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017.

• Important details –

1. Bringing the five new IIITs under this law will make them institutes of national importance and they will have the legal right to grant diplomas, degrees, and PhDs.
2. The institutes were hitherto registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and did not have the power to award degrees or diplomas.
3. The bill will also enable the institutes to attract enough students to develop a strong research base in the field of information technology. The five IIITs, set up on the PPP model, can now use the nomenclature B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD.
4. In IIITs, the Government of India contributes 50 per cent and the rest 35 per cent and 15 per cent are from the respective state governments and the industry. While in the case of the Northeast, 50 per cent sum of the industry participation is taken care of by the Government of India.

7.2 India conducts successful flight test of ABHYAS from Odisha test range

 

• Highlights –

1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a successful flight test of the ABHYAS High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT).
2. The trial has been conducted from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha.
3. During the trials, two demonstrator vehicles were successfully test flown. DRDO says the vehicle can be used as a target for evaluation of various missile systems.
4. The organisation added that “during the test campaign, the user requirement of five km flying altitude, a vehicle speed of Mach 0.5, an endurance of 30 minutes and a 2g turn capability was successfully achieved.”

• ABHYAS –

1. The ABHYAS is designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO.
2. The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung boosters.
3. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has a microelectromechanical system-based Inertial Navigation System for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.
4. The vehicle is said to be programmed for fully autonomous flight.
5. The check out of the air vehicle is done using-laptop based Ground Control Station (GCS).

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

8.1 Nepal’s Ang Rita Sherpa, first to climb Mount Everest 10 times, dies at 72

• Highlights –

1. Ang Rita Sherpa, the first man to climb Mount Everest 10 times, died of a lengthy illness on September 21, an event that fellow sherpas called a major loss to Nepal and the climbing community.
2. All the ascents to the 29,035-foot summit of the world's tallest mountain between 1983 and 1996 by Ang Rita, who went by his first name, like many Sherpas, were made without bottled oxygen.
3. Ang Rita was also known as the snow leopard for his climbing skills.
4. Many other climbers have since surpassed Ang Rita's feat, with one member of the community setting a record of 24 ascents.
5. Born in the mountain village of Yillajung in eastern Nepal in 1948, Ang Rita was 15 years old when he first started working as a porter. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a guide – summiting some of Nepal’s highest mountains. 

• A national hero –

1. Nepal’s tourism department said Rita’s contribution to mountaineering “will always be remembered”.
2. Despite of being a national hero, Rita struggled financially and had health problems a few years after his record-breaking feat. He suffered from liver illness and swelling of the brain.
3. In 1999, he fell seriously ill in his village and his close friend Ang Tshering hired a helicopter to fly him to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment.
4. He was hospitalised again for months in 2017 due to continued swelling of the brain. The cause of death was not disclosed.
5. He was among the first Sherpa guides to receive international fame for his accomplishments and an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2017.
6. He also achieved the first winter summit of Everest without supplementary oxygen in 1987.
7. Nepal government honoured him with Gorkha Dakshin Bahu First Class and the Tri Shakti Patta First Class.

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

9.1 NASA announces Artemis Plan to land first woman, next man on moon in 2024

• Key points –
  

1. NASA has shared an update to its Artemis program, including the latest Phase 1 plan to land the first woman and the next man on the surface of the Moon in 2024.
2. In its formal plan, NASA captures Artemis progress to date, identifying the key science, technology and human missions, as well as the commercial and international partnerships that will ensure we continue to lead in exploration and achieve our ambitious goal to land astronauts on the Moon.

• Important details –

1. The agency's powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), and the Orion spacecraft are closer than ever to their first integrated launch. The spacecraft is complete while the core stage and its attached four engines are undergoing a final series of tests that will culminate in a critical hot fire test this fall.
2. Following a successful hot fire test, the core stage will be shipped to the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for integration with the spacecraft.
3. NASA will launch an SLS and an Orion together on two flight tests around the Moon to check performance, life support, and communication capabilities. The first mission - known as Artemis I - is on track for 2021 without astronauts, and Artemis II will fly with crew in 2023.
4. In 2024, Artemis III will be humanity's return to the surface of the Moon - landing the first astronauts on the lunar South Pole.
5. As detailed in the agency's concept for surface sustainability earlier this year, an incremental build-up of infrastructure on the surface will follow later this decade, allowing for longer surface expeditions with more crew.
6. That concept calls for an Artemis Base Camp that would include new rovers, power systems, habitats, and more on the surface for long-term exploration of the Moon.
7. Throughout the Artemis program, robots and humans will search for, and potentially extract, resources such as water that can be converted into other usable resources, including oxygen and fuel.
8. By fine-tuning precision landing technologies as well as developing new mobility capabilities, astronauts will travel farther distances and explore new regions of 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 -

• 2020 US Open tennis men’s singles title winner Dominic Thiem is men’s tennis player belongs to Austria.
• P. Iniyan won the 48th annual world open chess tournament (online) recently.
• Spanish club Sevilla won the Europa League football title by beating Inter Milan in the final played at Lisbon.
• The country’s first Kisan Rail train was flagged off in Aug 2020 from Deolali in Nashik to Danapur in Bihar.
• Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume died in Northern Ireland at the age of 83 in Aug 2020.

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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