Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 17-10-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 17-10-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Covid-19 Updates – Sharpest fifteen-day fall of 18% in India’s cases, toll down 19% – India recorded 10,55,068 cases in the first fifteen days of this month, the lowest fortnightly count since the second half of August. This was the second straight fortnight when cases had shown a decline. In the Sept 16-30 period, fresh cases had dropped by 2.9%. The Covid-19 death toll has followed a similar pattern. In the first half of October, 13,474 fatalities were recorded, an 18.9% dip from the previous fortnight. The death count had dropped for the first time in the second half of September, although the fall was just 0.2%. Both the Covid-19 case count and the number of deaths had peaked in the first half of September. In that fortnight, the country had recorded 13,31,660 fresh infections (a 28.7% rise over the previous fortnight) and 16,641 deaths, up 15.4% from the previous 15 days.
2. Education – Delhi, Odisha applicants score 100% in NEET 2020 – Akanksha Singh of Delhi and Soyeb Aftab of Odisha both scored an unprecedented 100% in the NEET 2020, with Mr. Aftab snagging the All India number one rank, according to the tie-breaking policy, as he is older. This is the first time a perfect score has been achieved in NEET. The two topped the list of the more than 7.7 lakh students who qualified for medical and dental counselling. Cut-offs were higher across the board, with 147 for general category students, as against last year’s 134. For general category students from economically weaker sections, the cut-off is 129, while for all other reserved categories it is 113. The highest qualifying percentages were in Chandigarh and Delhi (both above 75%) and Haryana (almost 73%). Tamil Nadu recorded significant improvement, with a qualifying percentage of over 57%.
3. Environment and Ecology – Stubble burning: Justice Lokur, students to save NCR – Former Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur, helped by student volunteer forces deployed from the National Cadet Corps, the National Service Scheme and the Bharat Scouts and Guides, will protect Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) from pollution caused by stubble burning in the neighbouring States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh this winter. A Supreme Court Bench led by CJI S. A. Bobde appointed Justice Lokur as a one-man committee to monitor and prevent instances of stubble burning by farmers in the three States. Student forces will patrol highways and fields in the three States and ensure that no fires are started in the fields.
4. Science and Technology – New research sheds light on declining star formation in Milky Way – In a vital discovery which may help understand the mystery behind declining star formation activity in the Milky Way, a team of astronomers from the Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) and Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru have used the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) to measure the atomic hydrogen content of galaxies seen as they were eight billion years ago when the universe was young. The research, carried out by Aditya Chowdhury, noted astrophysicist Nissim Kanekar, and Jayaram Chengalur of NCRA-TIFR, and Shiv Sethi, and K. S. Dwarakanath of RRI, has been published in the October 15 issue of the prestigious British scientific journal Nature.
5. Social – India fares poorly in hunger index – According to the Global Hunger Index 2020, India has the highest prevalence of wasted children under five years in the world, which reflects acute undernutrition. The situation has worsened in the 2015-19 period, when the prevalence of child wasting was 17.3%, in comparison to 2010-14, when it was 15.1%. Overall, India ranks 94 out of 107 countries in the Index, lower than neighbours such as Bangladesh (75) and Pakistan (88). 2020 scores reflect data from 2015-19. The Index is a peer-reviewed report released annually by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. It uses four parameters to determine its scores. India fares worst in child wasting (low weight for height, reflecting acute undernutrition) and child stunting (low height for age, reflecting chronic undernutrition), which together make up a third of the total score.
6. India – Anti-Khalistan activist gunned down – Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who had fought against terrorism in Punjab for years, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at his house in Bhikhiwind village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, police said. He was 62. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Mr. Sandhu was awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 1993 for his exemplary courage as he along with his family strongly opposed the Khalistani movement and fought terrorism for many years.
7. Education  – IITs open ‘GATE’ for comm and arts students, over 14,000 apply – Over 14,000 students from arts and commerce background have applied for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)—a qualifying exam for those seeking admissions to masters and PhD programmes in science and technology, and placements in public sector undertakings. This is the first year that IITs have opened their ‘GATE’—quite literally—for students from the humanities background. Overall, 8.8 lakh candidates from across the country have applied for the test scheduled in Feb 2021. While the IITs were expecting an increase in applications, after a few changes this year, it has gone up marginally by only 5,000. The numbers may have reached its natural saturation point, say some.
8. Brexit – Johnson says prepare for no-deal Brexit, cancels talks – PM Boris Johnson said it was now time to prepare for a no-trade deal Brexit unless the European Union fundamentally changed course, bluntly telling Brussels that there was no point in talking any more. A tumultuous “no deal” finale to the United Kingdom’s five-year Brexit crisis would sow chaos through the delicate supply chains that stretch across Britain, the EU and beyond — just as the economic hit from the pandemic worsens. The EU delivered an ultimatum: it said it was concerned by a lack of progress and called on U.K. to yield on key sticking points or see a rupture of ties with the bloc from January 1.
9. World – Kyrgyzstan’s PM takes over as acting President – Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister became the acting head of state in the wake of the President’s resignation amid turmoil sparked by a disputed parliamentary election. Supporters of newly appointed Prime Minister Sadyr Zhaparov, rallied in the capital, Bishkek, and threatened to storm government buildings, forcing President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to step down on Thursday. Under the Constitution, the Speaker of Parliament would be next in line, but he refused to serve as caretaker leader under protesters’ pressure, allowing Mr. Zhaparov to claim the top office.
10. Economy – Passenger vehicle sales rise 17% in Q2 on festive push – According to numbers released by industry body Siam, as the festive season kicks in, car companies reported higher deliveries to dealerships in view of the anticipated demand rise. Passenger vehicle deliveries to dealers increased by 26% to 2.7 lakh units in September as against 2.1 lakh units in the same month last year, two-wheeler deliveries also rose 12% to 18.5 lakh units, compared with 16.6 lakh units in September last year. While motorcycle sales were at 12.2 lakh units (10.4 lakh in September 2019) at a growth of 17%, scooter sales were also up marginally at 5.6 lakh units against 5.5 lakh units in the same month last year.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	ESIC Medical College & Hosp., Faridabad	Prof., Asst Prof., Asso. Prof.	45	MD, MS, MDS, DNB	OCT-20-2020	https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/recruitmentfile/0d65828ff3efefdb98e050dc69b9ad5b.pdf
2	IISC, Bengaluru	Administrative Assistant	85	Any Degree	NOV--7-2020	https://iisc.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Admin-Assistants-notification_English.pdf
3	SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant	Specialist, Hospital Administrator, MO	37	MBBS, MD/ MS/ DNB	NOV-30-2020	https://www.sailcareers.com/media/uploads/FULL_ADVT_02_2020.pdf
4	Cochin Shipyard Limited	Project Assistant	56	Dip (Engg.)/ Deg. (Arts), PG (Comm)	NOV-27-2020	https://cochinshipyard.com/uploads/career/42e1ecbdda431654f5d4531de98f1cfb.pdf
5	DRDO-SSPL	Research Associate & Jr Research Fellow	12	M.Sc with NET, Ph.D	NOV-15-2020	https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/career-vacancy-documents/JRFONLINEADVERTISEMENT.pdf
6	Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.	Driver	8	SSC with Valid Driving License	NOV-2-2020	https://mazagondock.in/writereaddata/career/AdvtNo91_1014202014115AM.pdf
7	Andaman & Nicobar Administration	Food Safety Officer	19	Degree/ PG (Chemistry)	One Month	https://www.andaman.gov.in/admin-pannel/recruitmentrules/1-54-food%20safty.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 Kharif foodgrain production is expected to be record 144.52 million tonnes in 2020-21

Key points –

 

 

• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that foodgrain production is pegged at record 144.52 million tonnes in the 2020-21 kharif season notwithstanding COVID-19 crisis.
• Currently, harvesting of kharif crops is underway. Rice is the main kharif crop.
• Production of cash crops such as sugarcane and cotton is also expected to be good.
• Despite the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a record increase in area sown to kharif crops by 4.51 per cent to 1,121.75 lakh hectares in 2020.
• The agriculture sector grew 3.4 per cent during the first quarter of 2020-21 fiscal even as the total economy showed a decline in the said period.
• Farm exports too rose 43.4 per cent in the first six months of this fiscal despite the COVID-19 crisis.
• The government is taking many measures to strengthen the farm sector and Rs 1 lakh crore has been earmarked for strengthening agriculture infrastructure.
• About 37 food parks have also been sanctioned and of which 20 are operational.

Future outlook –

• Foodgrain production was 143.38 million tonnes during the 2019-20 kharif season.
• The ministry estimated a record rice output at 102.36 million tonnes during the kharif season of 2020-21 crop year (July-June) as against 101.98 million in the previous year.
• Similarly, pulses output is likely to increase to 9.31 million tonnes this kharif season from 7.72 million tonnes in 2019-20, while the production of oilseeds is projected to increase to 25.72 million tonnes from 22.31 million tonnes.
• Coarse cereals production is estimated to be slightly lower at 32.84 million tonnes in the 2020-21 kharif season as against 33.69 million tonnes.
• Among cash crops, cotton output is estimated to be at record 37.11 million bales as against 35.49 million bales of 170 kg, while sugarcane output is projected to increase to 399.8 million tonnes from 355.7 million tonnes in the said period.

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

3.1 Not Available Today

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

4.1 Ban on imports of air conditioners with refrigerants

 

Key point –

• India has banned the import of air conditioners with refrigerants – this could be a big blow to China.
• The move is aimed at providing a big boost to domestic production.

Important details –

• India had earlier put the import of television sets under a restricted list and had asked importers to seek licenses from the DGFT.
• The domestic market of air conditioners in India is huge, believed to be around $5-6 billion.
• The government wants local manufacturers to step up production and sale, in line with its Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.
• The government has also recommended anti-dumping duty of five years on Choline Chloride imports from China, Malaysia and Vietnam, after a flurry of complaints by domestic manufacturers.
• In August 2020, India had introduced an import embargo on over 100 items to boost indigenisation of defence production in the country.
• The government’s aim is to increase indigenous manufacturing of all such equipment to boost self-reliance.
• However, a major push behind India’s self-reliant drive was the recent border standoff with China. Since the conflict began, India has been cutting down on imports from China as part of strict trade measures.
• In the April-August period (2020), Indian imports from China declined over 27 per cent to $21.58 billion as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

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

5.1 Gadkari lays foundation stones of Rs. 15,592-cr projects Andhra Pradesh

 

Highlights –

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of highways projects worth Rs 15,592 in Andhra Pradesh. These include 16 highway projects stretching over 1,411 km.
• The length of national highways in Andhra Pradesh before May 2014 was 4,193 km, which has now increased to 6,860 km, registering an increase of 2,667 km, or 64 per cent, in length in six years.
• Works costing Rs 34,100 crore are under the detailed project report (DPR) stage and may be completed by 2024, while works costing Rs 25,440 crore are under implementation.
• The minister has said that 50-60 per cent progress has been achieved in projects costing Rs 18,100 crore.
• 5,000 km of national highways are being developed as a part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana in the state. In addition, 400 km of port connectivity roads will also be developed under the programme.
• Many flagship corridors such as Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway, and Anantapur-Amaravati Expressway are being developed as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
• The 335-km Anantpur-Amaravati Expressway is also being developed as part of the programme.
• The controlled-access expressway is expected to improve connectivity of the capital region, coastal and northern region of Andhra Pradesh and will enable the economic prosperity of the region.
• The expressway has 16 packages and is being developed with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.
• It connects Amaravati, new capital city of Andhra Pradesh, with Anantapuramu of Rayalaseema Region, and provides a major connectivity between NH-44 and NH-16 which are lifeline in Andhra Pradesh.
• The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway with a length of 262 km is also one of the expressways being developed as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
• The works have been sanctioned and construction is being initiated in another 16 projects of 878 km length at an investment of Rs 7,585 crore. It includes construction of Western Side Benz Circle Flyover in the city limits of Vijayawada.
• Projects with a total length of 637 km costing Rs 8,306 crore are likely to be completed during 2020-21. These include eight projects with a road length of 150 km at a cost of Rs 3,850 crore by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and 19 projects with a road length of 487 km at Rs 4,456 crore by the ministry.
• Further, projects with a total length of 535 km costing Rs 11,712 crore will be awarded during the current financial year.
• Another 2,371-km projects costing Rs 34,133 crore are at the DPR stage. These include 10 projects with a road length of 713 km at a cost of Rs 19,559 crore by NHAI.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Indian government aims to make India Trans Fat free by 2022

 

Key points –

• Health Minister Dr Harsh has said that the aim of the government is to make India Trans Fat free by 2022, a year ahead of target set by WHO.
• It is in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India on 75 years of independence.
• If the government succeeds in achieving this, India would be a year ahead of target as set by World Health Organization (WHO).

Minister’s views –

• Due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the Covid pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability.
• The focus this year is on elimination of Trans Fats from the food supply chain.
• Trans Fat, a food toxin present in Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils, baked and fried foods, is a major contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India.
• Trans Fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Eliminating cardiovascular diseases risk factor is especially relevant during COVID-19 as people with this disease are predisposed to have serious conditions having an impact on mortality.

Trans Fat –

• Trans fats, or trans-fatty acids, are a form of unsaturated fat. They come in both natural and artificial forms.
• Natural, or ruminant, trans fats occur in the meat and dairy from ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. They form naturally when bacteria in these animals’ stomachs digest grass.
• The best-known ruminant trans fat is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is found in dairy fat. It is believed to be beneficial and is marketed as a dietary supplement.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Weekly Round-up – Polity and Governance

• Inaugural Mushirul Hasan Memorial Lecture of Jamia Milia Islamia delivered - Prof. Sugata Bose of Harvard University delivered the inaugural Mushirul Hasan Memorial Lecture of Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi on October 1, 2020. The academic remarked that Asian universalism’s future in the 21st century will be determined by the rivalry between India and China which is intensifying. Prof. Hasan was the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Milia Islamia during 2004-2009. He died in Dec 2018.
• Rajasthan govt. to give 30% of new PDS shops to women - The Rajasthan government has decided to give 30% of the new PDS (public distribution system) shops to women, according to an official statement on Sept 30, 2020.
• SC quashes notification exempting overtime wages during lockdown in Gujarat - The Supreme Court on Oct 1, 2020 quashed a Gujarat government notification exempting factories from paying overtime wages to workers during the lockdown between April 20 and July 19. A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the pandemic could not be an excuse to deny workers the dignity of their labour. The government notification allowed factory owners to make their workers slog up to 12 hours a day, 72 hours in a week with a 30-minute break after six hours.
• Gujarat govt to provide subsidised food grain to additional 10 lakh families under NFSA - Gujarat Government has decided to provide subsidised food grain to additional 10 lakh families under National Food Security Act (NFSA). With this, all NFSA benefits will be available to 50 lakh poor citizens. All divyangs, widows and old-age pension scheme beneficiaries will also get benefits of NFSA. Below Poverty Line (BPL) families that are not covered under NFSA will also get benefits of NFSA. All these beneficiaries will get 5 kilograms food grains per month including 3.5 kilograms wheat and 1.5 kilograms rice.
• Maharashtra launches 'My Family-My Responsibility' initiative against Covid-19 - The Maharashtra Government has continued its 'My Family-My Responsibility' initiative against Covid-19 and has claimed good response from all sections of the society. The campaign launched for COVID-19 entails door-to-door survey for tracing and treating patients, identifying people with co-morbidities, raising awareness and educating the citizens on safety measures to break the transmission of the virus.
• Maharashtra bans sale of unpackaged “loose” cigarettes and beedis - The Maharashtra government has banned the sale of unpackaged “loose” cigarettes and beedis as they don't have health warnings. Mahrashtra is the first Indian state to impose such a ban. The move is aimed at ensuring that customers see the graphic, public health warnings mandated on cigarette packaging.  
• MECL starts exploration of the Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka - The Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) started exploration of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka after a gap of 16 years, said Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi on Sept 28.
• Phoolbagan Station of Kolkata’s East West Metro corridor inaugurated - Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on October 4, 2020 virtually inaugurated the Phoolbagan Station of Kolkata’s East West Metro corridor, and flagged off the first train from there to Salt Lake Sector-V.
• Syeda Anwara Taimur, Assam’s only woman chief minister, dies at 84 - Syeda Anwara Taimur, the only woman chief minister of Assam, died at the age of 84 in Australia on September 28, 2020. Taimur was four-time MLA and member of Indian National congress. She was chief minister from December 6, 1980, to June 30, 1981.

 

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

8.1 Life Expectancy in India jumped from 59.6 years in 1990 to 70.8 years in 2019: Lancet

 

 

Key points –

• India has gained more than a decade of life expectancy since 1990, but there are wide inequalities between states.  
• Life expectancy in India has risen from 59.6 years in 1990 to 70.8 years in 2019, ranging from 77.3 years in Kerala to 66.9 years in Uttar Pradesh.  

Experts’ views and Important details –

• The increase in ‘healthy life expectancy’ in India has not been as dramatic as the growth of life expectancy since “people are living more years with illness and disability.  
• The current global crisis of chronic diseases and failure of public health to stem the rise in highly preventable risk factors such as high blood pressure, tobacco use, and air pollution have left populations vulnerable to acute health emergencies such as COVID-19.
• While many parts of the world have also controlled infectious diseases through immunisation and better medical care, some countries still struggle to manage these epidemics.
• In the South Asia region, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now contribute to more than half of the years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death, which was dominated by infectious, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases 30 years ago.
• The researchers said that 58 per cent of the total disease burden in India is now due to non-communicable diseases, up from 29 per cent in 1990, while premature deaths due to NCDs have more than doubled from 22 to 50 per cent.
• The study showed that the largest contributors to increasing health loss in India over the last 30 years were NCDs like ischaemic heart disease, COPD, diabetes, stroke, and a group of musculoskeletal disorders.
• In 2019, the research highlighted that the top five risk factors for death in India were air pollution (contributing to an estimated 1.67 million deaths), high blood pressure (1.47 million), tobacco use (1.23 million), poor diet (1.18 million), and high blood sugar (1.12 million).
• The scientists said several of the risk factors and NCDs highlighted by the study, including obesity and diabetes are associated with increased risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.
• According to the scientists, high blood pressure is the third leading risk factor after air pollution, responsible for 10-20 per cent of all health loss in eight states in India, primarily in the south.

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

9.1 Weekly Round-up – Science and Technology

 

• IIT Kharagpur launches telemedicine software - With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, IIT Kharagpur in Oct 2020 launched a telemedicine software which facilitates critical health care support to patients at their doorsteps through remote consultation by a physician. The system iMediX which is accessible by any standard internet browser and also from a mobile device. In this system, a patient signs up to get an account by providing his/her Email ID or mobile number.
• A species of tree considered extinct since 1835 spotted in Kerala - A tree species, long believed extinct, has been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a grove in Kollam district. Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode, near Thiruvananthapuram, have identified the tree as Madhuca diplostemon (family Sapotaceae), a threatened species of the Western Ghats whose specimen was first collected in 1835. Only one mature tree has been found so far.
• ISRO’s Astrosat completes 5 years of imaging celestial objects in space - Astrosat, India's first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory, on September 28, 2020 completed five years of imaging celestial objects in space. The satellite launched by ISRO on September 28 2015 has carried out 1,166 observations of 800 unique celestial sources proposed by scientists both from India and abroad.

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

10.1 Not Available Today

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation in August 2020 was 0.16%*
• The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr. Reddy’s Labs have agreed to cooperate on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India.
• Sally tropical storm hit US states of Louisiana and Florida in Sept 2020?.
• The Union Housing and Urban Affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sept 11, 2020 launched the ‘Streets for Sally Challenge’, which aims to inspire cities to create pedestrian-friendly streets.
• The Telugu Language Day (Telugu Bhasha Dinotsavam) was celebrated on Aug 29.

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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