Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 03-10-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 03-10-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Polity and Governance – Trinamool MPs stopped outside Hathras village – Political pressure on the UP govt continued over its handling of the Hathras gangrape and the rushed late night cremation of the victim. The State government suspended Hathras Superintendent of Police Vikrant Vir and four other officials for negligence over the incident. The action was taken on the basis of the first report submitted by the Special Investigation Team. With the Hathras administration continuing to bar the entry of outsiders, the situation at the victim’s village of Bulgaddhi remained tense. A delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs, which tried to reach the village to meet the victim’s family, was manhandled and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien pushed to the ground by the police about 1.5 km from the village.
2. Bihar Elections 2020 – LJP will go it alone in Bihar but back Modi – It is almost certain that the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will contest 143 seats outside the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with the slogan “Modi se bair nahi, Nitish teri khair nahi.” LJP president Chirag Paswan met BJP president J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah. It will be a friendly alliance, with the BJP offering not to contest in the seats that will fall in the LJP’s kitty. The LJP also assured the BJP that in the post-poll scenario, it will back the BJP’s candidate for Chief Minister. A formal announcement is likely over the weekend. A senior LJP leader said the party was in the NDA at the national level but not at the State-level. Technically, therefore, it is not formally walking out of the NDA. With party patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan seriously ill and undergoing treatment at a Delhi hospital, his resignation from the Cabinet post is completely ruled out.
3. Economy – Centre ready to waive interest on interest during moratorium – In a big relief for individual and MSME borrowers, the Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to waive “interest on interest” on loans of up to Rs 2 crore during the six-month repayment moratorium — with the benefit also available to those who were clearing their dues on a range of loans between March and August. This category of borrowers, in whose case the compound interest will be waived, would be MSME loans and personal loans up to Rs 2 crore of the following category — MSME loans, educational loans, housing loans, consumer durable loans, credit card dues, auto loans, personal loans to professionals and consumption loans.
4. Covid-19 Updates – India third country to cross one lakh Covid deaths, but CFR is lower than most – The toll in the US is more than double that of India at over 2.1 lakh, while Brazil, with far fewer cases, has recorded over 1.4 lakh deaths. However, in the past two months, India has reported the highest number of fatalities in the world, with nearly 63% of all deaths in the country coming during this period. India reported 33,255 Covid-19 deaths in Sept, at a daily average of over 1,100. While the toll has been mounting, India is still far below the world’s worst-hit countries in terms of deaths per lakh population and case fatality rates (CFRs). At 7.5 deaths per lakh population, India is in the 18th position among the 20 worsthit. India’s CFR, at 1.6, compares well with most countries, notably the US (2.8), Brazil (3), Mexico (10.4), the UK (9.2) and even Pakistan (2.1).
5. Economy – Govt plans to list LIC abroad – The govt is evaluating the option for an overseas listing of LIC, the country’s largest insurer, in what many believe will be a powerful signal to global investors. The govt has already announced its intent for an initial public offer (IPO) by the insurance giant, while also amending the Companies Act to allow Indian companies to directly list on foreign bourses. Following the budget announcement, the government has appointed Deloitte and SBI Capital Markets as transaction advisors for LIC, while also initiating the process to amend the LIC Act as the Centre is the sole shareholder under the law. The LIC is in the process of appointing an actuarial firm to arrive at the corporation’s embedded value — a valuation measure used by life companies to determine the present value of earning that will continue to flow in the future from policies that have already been sold.
6. World – Trump and wife test positive – US President Trump, 74, who for months dismissed and downplayed the pandemic—sneering at and smearing those promoting measures to combat the disease - and tempted fate with close-contact political rallies and meetings, has tested positive for Covid-19. Democratic challenger Joe Biden, who was on stage for the presidential debate with Trump on Tuesday, has tested negative.
7. Environment and Ecology – Three-fold increase in leopard capture, translocation: study – A study conducted across Karnataka indicates that the policy guidelines brought out by the government to mitigate human-leopard conflict and discourage translocation of the animal have had little impact on the ground. The number of leopards captured per month increased more than threefold (from 1.5 to 4.6) after the human-leopard policy guidelines were brought out in 2011. Similarly, there was a threefold increase in the number of leopards translocated per month (from 1 to 3.5). These findings have been published in a paper, ‘Policy to on-ground action: Evaluating a conflict policy guideline for leopards in India’, in the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy. Sanjay Gubbi of the Nature Conservation Foundation is authored the report with Aparna Kolekar and Vijaya Kumara.
8. World – Macron to launch crackdown on ‘Islamist separatism’ in Muslim communities – France President Emmanuel Macron pledged to fight “Islamist separatism” which he said was threatening to take control in some Muslim communities around France. France has struggled with homegrown Islamist militancy for years but Mr. Macron’s government is increasingly worried by broader signs of radicalisation — often non-violent — within Muslim communities. They cite the refusal of some Muslim men to shake women’s hands, swimming pools that impose alternate time slots for men and women, girls of as young as four being told to wear full-face veils, and a proliferation of ‘madrassa’ religious schools. More than 250 people have been killed on French soil over the past five years in attacks by Islamist militants or individuals inspired by jihadist groups.
9. India and its neighbourhood – Pakistan's Media Watchdog Bans Speeches Of 'Proclaimed Offenders' – Pakistan's electronic media watchdog has banned the broadcast and rebroadcast of any speech, interview or public address of absconders or proclaimed offenders, days after ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif made blistering speeches from exile in London targeting the powerful Pakistani Army. The move by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) came as it took cognizance of 70-year-old Sharif's repeated attack on the Pakistan Army, with the latest being on Thursday during which he in a televised speech said that the military had rigged the 2018 vote that brought the country's current prime minister to power.
10. World – On China’s National Day, dozens held in Hong Kong – Dozens of democracy supporters were arrested in Hong Kong for defying a protest ban as the city marked China’s National Day and its leader hailed Beijing’s new security law for restoring stability to the restive finance hub. The People’s Republic of China celebrates its founding on October 1 with a holiday and carefully choreographed festivities. But in Hong Kong, it has become a day of grievance for those worried about authoritarian Beijing’s intensifying crackdown against its opponents.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	NIRT	Project Technical Officer, Project Tech.	11	Degree, PG	03-10-2020	https://www.nin.res.in/employment/NIN_NATBPS.pdf
2	NIEPVD	TGT, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, PRT	6	Diploma, Any Degree	20-10-2020	http://nivh.gov.in/images/niepvd_Sep2020_adv.pdf
3	HPCL Biofuels Ltd.	GM, DGM, Manager/ Dy. Manager, Ele. Eng.	51	ITI, Diploma, Any Degree	10-10-2020	http://www.hpclbiofuels.co.in/downloads/Website-AD-Recruitment-2020.pdf
4	PGIMER – RML Hospital	Asst Professor, Sr Resident, Staff Nurse	10	MBBS, MD/ DNB, B.Sc	05 to 08-10-2020	https://rmlh.nic.in/WriteReadData/LINKS/vacancyb00aef73-a410-45f8-843e-b9b97af11fe4.pdf
5	HIL (India) Ltd.	Deputy Gen Manager, Assist. Mgr, Officer	5	Degree, PG	05-10-2020	http://www.hil.gov.in/Career/Advertisement%20of%20Various%20post%201409.pdf
6	Hindustan Shipyard Ltd	Graduate & Technician (Diploma) Apprentice	40	Diploma, Degree	01-10-2020	http://portal.mhrdnats.gov.in/sites/default/files/file_upload/Notification_Hindustan_Shipyard_Limited_Vizag.pdf
7	East Coast Railway	Radiographer, Nursing Superintendent	9	HSC, 10+2, GNM, Diploma	30-09 to 16-10-2020	https://eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1601109951310-Para%20Medical%20Walkin.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 Intention to abet suicide should be backed by a “state of mind”

 

• News - A three-judge Bench of Justices N.V. Ramana, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy said every crime should be backed by a “state of mind” or mens rea or intention. The intention to ABET SUICIDE cannot be assumed and it needs to be backed by solid, visible proof, the Supreme Court held in a judgment.
• Section 107 of IPC - ‘Abetment’ is defined in Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Its ingredients consist of instigating a person or to intentionally aid a person to do or not do something. Similarly, the crime of ‘abetment of suicide’ under Section 306 of the IPC involves instigating or actively aiding a person to take his own life.
• Background - The judgment came on an appeal filed by Gurcharan Singh, who was convicted of abetting the suicide of his wife 22 years ago in Punjab. The trial court found him guilty, saying the woman was pushed into taking her own life when her hopes of a happy relationship was dashed by his “wilful neglect” but no direct evidence of any cruelty on his part towards her. The trial court had even acquitted the man of dowry harassment charges. The High Court agreed with the trial court. In his appeal before the Supreme Court, Singh argued about the complete lack of evidence to show that he had instigated or intentionally aided his wife to take her own life. Setting aside his conviction, the court said it cannot make conjectures about why a young woman with two small children chose to take her own life.

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

2.1 Country’s external debt at $554.5 bn by June-end, down $3.9 bn from March: the Central Bank

• Key points –  

1. The RBI has said that India's external debt stood at $554.5 billion at end-June, recording a decrease of $3.9 billion over its level at the end of March 2020.
2. Further, the external debt to GDP ratio increased to 21.8 per cent at June-end 2020 from 20.6 per cent as on March 31.

• Data analysis –

1. Valuation loss due to the depreciation of the US dollar vis-a-vis major currencies such as euro, yen and SDR was at $0.7 billion.
2. As per the data, commercial borrowings remained the largest component of external debt, with a share of 38.1 per cent, followed by non-resident deposits (23.9 per cent) and short-term trade credit (18.2 per cent).
3. As on June 30, long-term debt (with original maturity of above one year) was placed at USD 449.5 billion, recording a decrease of $2 billion over its level at March-end.
4. The share of short-term debt in total external debt declined to 18.9 per cent as on June 30 from 19.1 per cent at end-March.
5. The US dollar denominated debt remained the largest component of India's external debt, with a share of 53.9 per cent at end-June followed by the Indian rupee (31.6 per cent), yen (5.7 per cent), SDR (4.5 per cent) and the euro (3.5 per cent).
6. The instrument-wise classification shows that the loans were the largest component of external debt, with a share of 35.4 per cent, followed by currency and deposits, trade credit and advances and debt securities.
7. The borrower-wise classification shows that the outstanding debt of both government and non-government sectors decreased at end-June 2020.
8. Debt service (principal repayments plus interest payments) increased to 8.1 per cent of current receipts at end-June 2020 as compared with 6.5 per cent at end-March 2020, reflecting lower current receipts.

2.2 Core sector output contracts for sixth straight month in August, down by 8.5 per cent

 

• Key points –

1. After slowing for the previous four months, contraction in core sector output again worsened in August 2020.
2. Output declined by 8.5 per cent, following July’s 8 per cent fall as an acute demand slump and the continuing liquidity crisis affected most industries.

• Detailed analysis –

1. The pace of contraction had reduced since April, when output had fallen by a record 38 per cent.
2. However, updated figures have shown that seven of the eight industries in the core sector continued to contract in August. It is the sixth straight month this has happened.
3. The biggest fall was experienced by refinery production as imports of crude oil wilted by 41 per cent. The sudden drop in global demand, as the pandemic stifled economic activity everywhere, led to a contraction in the sector.
4. Overall production dwindled 19 per cent in August, after falling by 14 per cent in July. Refinery production has the biggest weightage among the eight core sector industries and experts expect it to drag down total production figures in the coming months.
5. In tandem, crude oil production continued its downward spiral for the 23rd month in a row. The output reduced 6.3 per cent in August from the 4.3 per cent fall in the previous month.
6. However, coal production turned positive in the latest month with output expanding by 3.6 per cent, after reducing by 5.7 per cent in July, as coal offtake levels rose steadily.
7. By extension, electricity generation also contracted, albeit at a slow pace. Year-on-year (YoY) contraction in generation stood at 2.5 per cent in August, after July’s 2.3 per cent fall.
8. The infrastructure segment also continued to see major production shocks. The already volatile sectors of steel and cement have been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as social distancing norms meant that construction remained largely suspended across the country.
9. Contraction in steel production stood at 6.3 per cent, after a 8.3 per cent fall in the previous month.
10. On the other hand, contraction in cement production again widened in August to 14.6 per cent.
11. Fertiliser stood out as the sole sector with burgeoning growth. Fertiliser production rose 7.3 per cent in August, after July’s 6.9 per cent rise.
12. Given the relationship between core sector growth and the index of industrial production (IIP) growth, the latter may contract modestly to 6-8 per cent in August, from the initial 10.4 per cent in July.

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

3.1 Over 4,300 urban local bodies declared free of open defecation: Government

• Highlights –

1. Over 1,300 cities and over 4,300 urban local bodies in the country have so far achieved open-defecation-free tags, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) said ahead of the sixth anniversary of the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
2. The Swachh Bharat initiative was launched on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, in 2014.
3. The MoHUA have claimed that more than 66 lakh individual household toilets and over 6 lakh community and public toilets have been constructed under the Mission, far exceeding its targets.
4. In the area of solid waste management, 97 per cent wards have complete door-to door collection and 77 per cent wards have source segregation of waste, while 67 per cent of the total waste generated is being processed – a jump of nearly four times over 2014 levels of 18 per cent processing.

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

4.1 International Translation Day: 30th September

• Highlights – 
  

1. International Translation Day is an international day celebrated every year on 30 September on the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of translators.
2. The celebrations have been promoted by International Federation of Translators (FIT) ever since it was set up in 1953.
3. In 1991, FIT launched the idea of an officially recognized International Translation Day to show solidarity of the worldwide translation community in an effort to promote the translation profession in different countries (not necessarily only in Christian ones).
4. The United Nations General Assembly passed on May 24, 2017, a resolution declaring September 30 as International Translation Day, an act to recognise the role of professional translation in connecting nations.
5. The day aims to celebrate the work of language translation professionals which facilitates dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security. 

• Theme –

1. In line with the celebration of 2019 as International Year of Indigenous Languages, the theme for 2019 was "Translation and Indigenous Languages" and for 2020 is "Finding the words for a world in crisis".

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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 Temple of Kakatiya dynasty has been converted into an abode of Goddess Durga

 

• A temple constructed by Emperor Ganapati Deva, a ruler of Kakatiya dynasty, in Dharanikota (Andhra Pradesh) has been converted into an abode of local goddess Balusulamma (Goddess Durga).
• The presiding deity at this 13th-century temple was Kakati Devi, the tutelary deity of Kakatiya rulers. Due to ravages of time and for no upkeep, the presiding deity got damaged.
• The villagers of Dharanikota, who had no knowledge about the past of the temple, installed Balusulamma idol and started worshipping.
• Kakatiya Dynasty - Kakatiyas is an Andhra dynasty that flourished in the 12th century CE. The Kakatiya dynasty ruled from Warangal (Telangana) from CE 1083-1323. They were known for the construction of a network of tanks for irrigation and drinking water and thereby gave a big boost to the overall development of the region. Hundreds of Hindu temples were built under the patronage of Kakatiya kings like Ganapati Deva, Rudrama Devi and Prataparudra of Kakatiya dynasty. E.g. Examples: (1) Thousand Pillar Temple or Rudreshwara Swamy Temple, Telangana. It is a star-shaped, triple shrine (Trikutalayam) dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva and Surya. (2) Ramappa Temple, Warangal, Telangana; (3) Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, Telangana.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Weekly Round-up - Politics

• Parliament passes bill to reduce for 1 year the salaries of MPs by 30% - Parliament passed a bill to reduce for one year the salaries of MPs by 30 per cent “to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic”. Raj  ya Sabha passed the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 on September 18, 2020. It had been passed by the Lok Sabha on September 16.  
• Parliament passes bill to reduce for 1 year the salaries of Ministers by 30% - Parliament passed the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which proposes to reduce the salaries and allowances of ministers by 30 per cent for a year, to meet the exigencies arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on September 18, 2020. It had been passed by the Lok Sabha on September 16.  
• Rajya Sabha passes Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 - The Rajya Sabha on September 19, 2020 passed a legislation that provides for up to five years in jail for those attacking doctors and healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 outbreak or during any situation akin to the current pandemic. The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 replaces an ordinance issued by the government in April.
• Offences will be investigated by an officer of the rank of inspector within a period of 30 days, and trial has to be completed in one year, unless extended by the court for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Bill proposes.
• As per the its provisions, the commission or abetment of such acts of violence will be punishable with an imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000.
• MoU signed between AYUSH Ministry and WCD Ministry for controlling Malnutrition - A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development on September 20, 2020 in New Delhi for controlling Malnutrition as a part of POSHAN Abhiyaan. The MoU will see Ayush-based solutions being adopted for controlling malnutrition in the country.  
• MD/MS students must serve at a district hospital for 3 months: Centre - The Central government has made it mandatory for all students pursuing MD or MS to undergo compulsory posting at a district hospital for three months, starting from the 2020-21 academic session. The objective is to acquaint them with promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services.
• NITI Aayog, ISPP join hands for capacity building of govt. officials - NITI Aayog and the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) have joined hands for training, mentoring and capacity building of government officials as well as public policy scholars. The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of the Aayog has signed a statement of intent with the ISPP in this regard.
• EC Examines Remote Voting Option, Sets up Tech Group - The Election Commission of India has started work on developing a framework to enable those away from their constituencies due to some constraints to vote from their locations. The poll panel has set up a seven-member technical advisory group to examine all aspects of the plan. It will be chaired by Prof Rajat Moona, a former director general of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.
• Narendra Singh Tomar to hold charge of Food Processing Industries - President Ram Nath Kovind on September 18, 2020 accepted the resignation of Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal. Cabinet Minister Narendra Singh Tomar be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in addition to his existing portfolios of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development Ministry and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Harivansh Narayan Singh re-elected as Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman - Rajya Sabha on September 14, 2020 re-elected Janata Dal (United) parliamentarian Harivansh Narayan Singh as deputy chairman of the Upper House by voice vote. The opposition had fielded Manoj Jha, an RJD member.  
• Ashok Gasti, BJP Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, dies at 55 - Ashok Gasti, newly-elected BJP Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, died at the age of 55 in Bengaluru on September 17, 2020.
• AP: Tirupati Lok Sabha MP Balli Durga Prasad Rao Garu dies at 65 - Tirupati Lok Sabha MP and YSR Congress Party leader Balli Durga Prasad Rao passed away on September 16, 2020 in Chennai at the age of 65. He had tested positive for novel coronavirus. Rao had been a three-term MLA in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and a minister in the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet in undivided AP.
• Gujarat govt. signs MoU with SIDBI to support state’s MSMEs - The Gujarat government on September 15, 2020 signed an MoU with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to increase self-reliance and provide capacity building and market support to the state's 35 lakh micro-small-medium enterprises (MSMEs). SIDBI will help the small-scale industries in the state to come out of the current COVID-19 situation effectively, and also evaluate feasibility of infrastructure projects and common facility centres for MSME clusters in the state. SIDBI will handhold the MSME units to create digital platforms to keep pace with world trends.
• Parliament passes Bill giving ‘national importance’ tag to Gujarat Ayurveda institutes - Parliament on September 16, 2020 passed a bill to accord the status of an institution of national importance to a Jamnagar-based cluster of Ayurveda institutes. According to ‘The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020’ 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.  
• Lok Sabha passes Bill to establish National Forensic Sciences University - A bill to establish a National Forensic Sciences University by upgrading the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University was passed by Lok Sabha on September 20, 2020. The National Forensic Sciences University Bill had been moved by Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy for consideration and passage.
• PM inaugurates 1.9 km long Kosi Rail Mahasetu (Mega Bridge) in Bihar - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 18, 2020 inaugurated the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (Mega Bridge) in Bihar through video conference. The bridge is 1.9 kilometres long and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 516 crores.
• J&K: LG Manoj Sinha launches National Generic Document Registration System - In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) on September 18, 2020. NGDRS represents a major shift from the existing manual registration system to online registration of all transactions in sale-purchase and transfer of land.
• Tamil Nadu becomes first state with AI, blockchain, cybersecurity policies - Tamil Nadu became first state in the country to come out with policies on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Cybersecurity policies. The policies go by the names Tamil Nadu Cyber Security Policy, 2020, Tamil Nadu Blockchain Policy, 2020, and Tamil Nadu Safe and Ethical Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2020.

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

8.1 Supreme Court squashes Gujarat notification exempting factories from payment of overtime wages

• Key points – 
  

1. The Supreme Court (SC) has struck down the Gujarat government’s decision to exempt industries in the state from certain provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 relating to the payment of overtime wages and also for fixed working hours between April 20 and July 19 on grounds of public emergency due to the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic-induced lockdown restrictions.

• Highlights –

1. The SC observed that right to life of workers is not conditional and their just claims to overtime wages and decent working conditions must not be denied because of the Covid-19 outbreak and massive disruption of economic activities following the 68-day nationwide lockdown restrictions.
2. The lockdown was enforced from March 25 in a bid to contain the contagion.
3. The apex court held that workers faced unprecedented social and economic challenges during the lockdown and law cannot be used as an affront to their right to life and their just claims against forced labour.
4. The Gujarat government had issued a notification on April 17 to provide relaxation to industries during the lockdown period by exempting them from certain conditions mandated under the Factories Act, 1948.
5. The notification provided that workers in Gujarat can be made to work 12 hours a day with a 30-minute break after every six hours. It also did away with the requirement to pay double the wages for overtime work. The order had stated that normal wages can be paid even for overtime work.
6. The notification was issued under section 5 of the Factories Act, 1948. Section 5 allows a government to exempt industries from the purview of Factories Act, 1948 on grounds of public emergency.
7. Section 5 defines public emergency as a grave emergency, which threatens the internal security of the country whether by war or external aggression or even internal disturbances.
8. The apex court held that section 5 cannot be invoked to provide a blanket relief to all factories citing Covid-19 pandemic and the contagion cannot be considered a public emergency threatening national security.
9. Gujarat Mazdoor Sabha and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which is affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or the CPI (M), had moved the SC, challenging the Gujarat government’s April 17 notification.
10. The court ordered that overtime wages be paid to all eligible workers in Gujarat between April 20 and July 19, when the state government’s notification was in operation.

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

9.1 Weekly Round-up – Science and Technology

 

 

• Venus discovered to have traces of phosphine gas linked to life on earth – Scientists said on Sept 14 that the atmosphere of Venus contains traces of phosphine gas, which on Earth can be attributed to living organisms. Conditions on Venus are often described as hellish with daytime temperatures hot enough to melt lead and an atmosphere comprised almost entirely of carbon dioxide.
• A team of experts used telescopes in Hawaii and Chile's Atacama Desert to observe Venus' upper cloud deck, around 60 kilometres from the surface.
• They detected traces of phosphine, a flammable gas that on Earth often occurs from the breakdown of organic matter.
• Writing in Nature Astronomy, the team stressed the presence of phosphine did not prove the presence of life on Venus but as the clouds swirling about its broiling surface are highly acidic and therefore destroy phosphine very quickly, the research did show that something was creating it anew.
• The researchers conducted several modelling calculations in a bid to explain the new phosphine production.
• They concluded that their research provided evidence "for anomalous and unexplained chemistry" on Venus.
• Venus, which rotates in the opposite direction to Earth and where a day lasts 243 times longer, is a subject of intense interest among astronomers.
• China launches nine satellites into orbit from ship stationed in the Yellow Sea - China successfully launched on September 15, 2020 a solid-propellant carrier rocket from a ship in the Yellow Sea, sending nine satellites into orbit. The Long March 11-HY2 rocket, carrying the satellites, blasted off from the Debo 3, a self-propelled deck barge that was modified for the mission. The nine satellites belong to the Jilin-1 Gaofen 03-1 group. Each of the satellites, developed by Changguang Satellite Technology in Changchun, Jilin province, weighs about 42 kgs. 

 

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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 -

• Mira Nair received the Jeff Skoll Award for Impact Media at the 45th Toronto International Film Festival in Sept 2020.
• The New Delhi-based Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) organized ‘National Tribal Research Conclave’ through virtual platform in Sept 2020.
• World Photography Day was observed on August 19.
• Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar launched the Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel on August 4, 2020. NCDC is National Cooperative Development Corporation.
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Aug 2020 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Data Management System for Highways.

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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