Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 22-10-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 22-10-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Covid-19 Updates – ICMR nod for low-cost COVID-19 testing device – A new COVID-19 diagnostic method, using a low-cost portable unit developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after testing with patient samples showed an accuracy level slightly lower than the gold standard RT-PCR method, at a fraction of the cost. The machine cost less than Rs. 5,000 to make and the test kits would each cost about Rs. 500. Once the viral RNA was extracted, the testing process takes about one hour. The IIT was in discussion with commercial manufacturers and start-ups, and hoped that the government would also subsidise the cost of the test kits.
2. Polity and Governance – Rajasthan to oppose new farm laws – Rajasthan is set to become the second Congress-ruled State after Punjab to formally reject the Centre’s farm Acts. A special session of the Assembly will be convened soon to discuss the impact of the new laws on farmers. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said an Amendment Bill would be brought in the Assembly to nullify the Central laws, and a resolution adopted against the Centre’s stand on the issue of farmers’ welfare. The Council of Ministers took the decision to call the Assembly session at its meeting. The Council of Ministers laid emphasis on a mandatory provision for procurement of agricultural produce at minimum support prices (MSP).
3. Polity and Governance – Punjab farmers lift blockade for goods trains till November five – Members of as many as 30 farmer unions announced that movement of goods trains will be allowed amid the ongoing ‘rail roko’ agitation against the Centre’s agriculture sector laws. The decision was taken after the unions held a meeting here. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh welcomed the decision, saying it was in the interest of the State’s economy and its revival. He said the farmers had shown their love and concern for the people of Punjab with this move, as it will allow the State to get its much-needed coal supplies. He pointed out that the State had been facing a total power shutdown as a result of coal shortage.
4. Environment and Ecology – Air pollution now biggest health risk in India, says report– Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and neonatal diseases in India in 2019, according to the State of Global Air 2020 by the U.S.-based Health Effects Institute. Overall, air pollution was now the largest risk factor for death among all health risks, the report noted. Outdoor and household particulate matter pollution also contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 Indian infants in their first month of life last year. More than half of these deaths were associated with outdoor PM2.5 and others were linked to use of solid fuels such as charcoal, wood, and animal dung for cooking. For the youngest infants, most deaths were related to complications from low birth weight and preterm birth.
5. Economy – Economy at doorstep of recovery, says RBI governor  – RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said that the Indian economy is at the doorstep of revival with the government and central bank maintaining an accommodative stance, asserting that both fiscal and monetary policy were counter-cyclical and working in tandem to help the economy overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Das’s statement comes a fortnight after he forecast India would break out of contraction in the 4th quarter— which triggered hopes the worst might be over after a nearly 24% contraction in the June quarter, one of the sharpest globally.
6. Environment and Ecology – ‘Gollum’ among 364 new species found in country – According to a recently released report by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) a total of 364 animal species were discovered in India in 2019, adding to the country’s rich biodiversity. The report also showed that these new-to-science species have been given names ranging from bizarre to witty. For instance, a snakehead fish from Malappuram in Kerala was named ‘Gollum’ after JRR Tolkein’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ books, while another fish was christened ‘Bhujia’ since its shape resembled the popular Indian snack. Bhujia eel loach (Pangio bhujia), a new species of eel loaches, was discovered by scientists in Kozhikode last year. The species Pangio was given the name bhujia inspired by the resemblance of this species to the well-known Indian snack of bhujia.
7. US Presidential Elections – Trump steps up attack on Biden, Harris –  With just two weeks left to go for Election Day, U.S. President Donald Trump and opponent Joe Biden are speaking at rallies in swing States trying to make each day of campaigning count. Among these States, Pennsylvania has acquired special focus. Mr. Trump held a rally at the airport, in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he and former President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign for Mr. Biden in Philadelphia. In Erie County — an overwhelmingly (87%) white, long-standing Democratic constituency — working class voters, driven by the decline in the manufacturing sector, had turned to Mr. Trump in 2016.
8. International Relations – Pompeo, Esper to travel to India for 2+2 Dialogue – U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced that he will fly to India on October 25, for the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Mr. Pompeo will be accompanied by U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The third annual ministerial dialogue will take place on Oct 27.
9. World – Unrest flares in Lagos after civilians are fired at – Nigeria’s biggest city Lagos and several states were under curfews as unrest rooted in anti-police protests broke out again following a day of violence, including the shooting of civilians by security forces. Fires burned across Lagos and residents reported hearing gunfire despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s appeal for “understanding and calm”. Armed police tried to enforce a curfew in the commercial capital, setting up checkpoints. But groups of young men blocked a number of major roads with overturned traffic signs, tree branches and rocks. Smoke billowed from buildings that were ablaze.
10. World  – Thai PM may lift emergency as rival rallies rock nation – Thailand’s embattled premier announced he might lift an emergency decree that has failed to stifle a growing protest movement demanding he steps down and also reforms to the monarchy.  After a day of anti-government and rival royalist protests across the country, thousands of angry pro-democracy activists marched on Government House, defying an emergency decree imposed last week banning gatherings of more than four people. As they chanted for him to resign, PM Prayut Chan-Ocha addressed the nation, saying he would make “the first move to de-escalate” the situation.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	CIMFR	Scientist	18	M. E./M. Tech, Ph. D	NOV-24-2020	https://cimfr.nic.in/upload_files/current_opportunity/1603106041_CIMFR-05-2020.pdf
2	THDC India Limited	ITI Trade Apprentice	10	10th Class & ITI	NOV-28-2020	https://thdc.co.in/sites/default/files/ITI2020_VPHEP.pdf
3	CCRH	Senior Research Fellow	19	Degree, PG (Homoeopathy)	27-10-2020 – Walk in	https://www.ccrhindia.nic.in/WriteReadData/LINKS/Senior%20Research%20Fellow4664a01d-a0fe-4b98-b4f0-cfc428d43e60.pdf
4	Cantonment Board, Deolali	Staff Nurse	6	Diploma (GNM), B.Sc (Nursing)	DEC-10-2020	https://www.canttboardrecruit.org/uploads/Deolali/ADeolali26.pdf
5	SHKM Govt Medical College	Junior Resident	15	MBBS	Every Wednes Day – Walk in	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/10/Notification-SHKM-Government-Medical-College-Junior-Resident-Posts.pdf
6	HP Bose	HP TET Nov 2020	20	10+2, D.El.Ed, BA, B.Sc, B.Com, B.Ed, B.El.Ed, MA	NOV-5-2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/hp-tet/215143/#HPTET-Nov-2020
7	CIMFR	Scientist	18	M. E./M. Tech, Ph. D	NOV 24,2020	https://cimfr.nic.in/upload_files/current_opportunity/1603106041_CIMFR-05-2020.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 Ban on natural gas, coal-bed methane producers from buying own produce

 

Key points –

• The government has banned natural gas and coal-bed methane (CBM) producers from buying their own produce.
• Recently, the government has notified the Natural Gas Marketing Reforms that give producers the freedom to discover the market price of gas through a standard e-bidding process.
• The notification also gives them the liberty to market or sell the gas produced to anyone including affiliates.
• But, the producer or any member of its gas field consortium cannot bid and buy the fuel, the notified guidelines said. This not just applies to conventional natural gas but also to CBM.

Important details –

• In 2017, Reliance Industries had bid and bought all the gas it was producing from its Sohagpur East and Sohagpur West CBM blocks in Madhya Pradesh.
• The company used the gas at its petrochemical plants in Patalganga and Nagothane in Maharashtra, and Vadodara and Jamnagar in Gujarat.
• Reliance had outbid gas utility GAIL India Ltd for gas from Sohagpur till March 2021.
• State-owned GAIL had criticized the move saying Reliance had a 14 per cent tax advantage in the bid as stock transfer within the company is not subject to VAT.
• The Oil Ministry had subsequently sought an explanation from Reliance which reasoned the sale to the CBM contract providing marketing freedom and the gas being sold through "an open and transparent bidding process through a reputed independent third party in compliance with provisions of the CBM contract and policy."
• To get rid of the ambiguity, the recent notification said with the new change "the April 11, 2017 notification on Early Monetization of CBM, regarding the process of the sale, will stand amended."
• The new guideline provides for the contractor selling the natural gas through e-bidding.
• The bidding will be conducted through an independent agency from a panel maintained by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH).
• The gas produced by state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) from fields given to them on a nomination basis would continue to be governed by government-dictated price, which currently is USD 1.79 per million British thermal unit.
• Moreover, fields like Ravva in the KG Basis which are governed by a formula in the contract would be out of this policy's purview.

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

3.1 Not Available Today

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

4.1 Weekly Round-up – Foreign Affairs

 

• India gets second set of Swiss bank account details under AEOI framework - India has got the second set of Swiss bank account details of its nationals and entities under the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) pact with Switzerland, marking a key milestone in the government’s fight against black money allegedly stashed abroad. India had received the first set of details from Switzerland in September 2019.
• India to overtake Japan as third largest economy by 2050: Lancet - India is likely to overtake Japan as the third largest economy in the world by 2050 behind US and China and continue in that position till 2100, according to a study published in the medical journal Lancet. The study constructed scenarios for GDP using the working age population of countries.
• “International conference on Mental Health: Looking Beyond COVID 19” held - Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot inaugurated the virtual “International conference on Mental Health: Looking Beyond COVID 19” through video conferencing on October 8, 2020. Prof. Craig Jeffrey, Director of Australia-India Institute co-chaired the conference.  
• Nepal withdraws textbook which includes contentious border map with India - Nepal has withdrawn a school textbook which included a contentious map of border areas with India that it earlier showed as part of its territory in its political map. In May 2020, Nepal’s Parliament approved the new political map of the country featuring Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas that are in Uttarakhand.
• MoS for External Affairs addresses Ministerial Meeting of NAM - Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan addressed the virtual Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on October 9, 2020. He said that NAM can never be a platform for ‘pursuits that undermine the territorial integrity of a State by another State’.
• Quad (Quadrilateral coalition) meeting held in Tokyo - The meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral coalition (Quad), held in Tokyo on October 6, 2020, agreed to step up coordination in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Participants were India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
• Cabinet approves signing of cybersecurity agreement with Japan - The Union Cabinet on October 7 approved signing of an agreement with Japan that is aimed at enhancing cooperation in emerging technologies, protection of critical infrastructure, cyberspace and to mitigate threats to communication networks. The pact will also provide for sharing strategies and best practices to promote the integrity of the supply chain of information and communication technology (ICT) products.
• India-Japan Strategic Dialogue of Foreign Minister held in Tokyo - External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi participated in the India-Japan Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo on October 7, 2020, during which they discussed cooperation in manufacturing, skills, infrastructure and health sectors.  
• Cabinet approves ratification of Stockholm Convention - The Union Cabinet on October 7, 2020 approved ratification of the Stockholm Convention by banning seven hazardous chemicals that are harmful for health and environment. The seven banned chemicals are listed as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.
• IFS (Indian Foreign Service) Day celebrated on October 9 - The IFS (Indian Foreign Service) Day was celebrated on October 9, 2020. The day is celebrated on 9 October every year since 2011 to commemorate the day the Indian Cabinet created the IFS.
• India ranked 155th on health spending index by Oxfam - A report by international charity Oxfam revealed that India spent less than 4% of its budget on health and ranked 155th on the health spending index.
• India global leader in real-time financial transactions with 41 mn per day: FIS - India has become the global leader in real-time financial transactions with 41 million transactions per day, says the latest report from FIS (Fidelity National Information Services), which is a leading provider of technology solutions for merchants, banks and capital markets firms globally. South Korea reported the highest number of real-time transactions per capita, with 75 transactions annually processed.  
• Finance companies cannot be set up with FDI from Mauritius: RBI - The Reserve Bank of India has spelt out that finance companies cannot be set up with foreign direct investment (FDI) from Mauritius and other jurisdictions that do not meet the benchmarks laid down by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• New Development Bank approves $741 million loans for Indian rail projects - The Shanghai based New Development Bank (also known as BRICS Bank) approved loans worth $741 million for railway projects in India. The bank approved a loan of USD 500 million for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project and a loan of USD 241 million for Mumbai Metro Rail II (Line 6) Project.
• Pakistan: Govt. to purchase, preserve actor Dilip Kumar’s home in Peshawar - The government of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has decided to purchase house of Indian film legendary actor Dilip Kumar in Peshawar and will convert it into a museum to preserve it in its original shape.

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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 New version of DRDO procurement manual

 

Highlights –  

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has released a new version of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Procurement Manual 2020 (PM-2020).
• The previous Procurement Manual was modified in 2016.
• This is to encourage more participation of Indian industry, including start-ups and micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs) in defence research and development.
• Bid security declaration option for earnest money deposit, increase of threshold limit for advance payment, placement of order on lowest bidder 2 (L2) in case L1 backs out are some of the salient features of the new manual, which will assist the industry for the speedy execution of projects.

Important details –

• Some more enabling measures of PM-2020 are exemption of bid security and performance security up to ₹10 lakh, no negotiations for commercial off-the-shelf items/services wherever price discovery is happening through market forces.
• Performance security for service contracts is linked to the payment cycle instead of total contract value.
• Procurement of stores from development partners, safeguarding of free issue material through insurance cover instead of bank guarantee are other facilitating measures have been adopted to help the industry.
• In the new version, the liquidated damage (LD) rate for development contracts has been reduced. The delivery period (DP) extension process has been simplified for faster decision making.
• Many of the internal procedures have also been further simplified for faster engagement with industry.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Poll expenditure limit gets increased

 

Key points –

• Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections and by-polls in other states, government has increased the poll expenditure limit of candidates in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by 10%.
• The Election Commission had recommended a 10% hike in expenditure limits for all elections scheduled amid the pandemic.
• The expenditure limit was earlier revised upwardly ahead of the 2014 general elections. 

Highlights –

• The limit has been upwardly revised by the Centre after consultations with the Election Commission of India.
• A notofication has been issued to increase the maximum expenditure from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 77 lakh by a candidate while contesting the Lok Sabha elections. In smaller states, the cap has been raised from Rs 54 lakh to Rs 59 lakh.
• Around 20 states and two Union Territories of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir are in the Rs 30.8 lakh/Rs 77 lakh category and eight states and UT of Puducherry in the Rs 22 lakh/Rs 59 lakh limit category.
• For Assembly polls, the amount has been hiked from Rs 28 lakh to Rs 30.8 lakh.
• The states with Rs 20 lakh expenditure limit will affect an upward revision to Rs 22 lakh.
• In Bihar, the Assembly polls are to be held on October 28, November 3, and November 7.
• Bypolls are also scheduled for one Lok Sabha seat and 59 Assembly seats in different states. Most Assembly bypolls are slated for November 3. 

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

8.1 World Statistic Day 2020

 

Key points – 

• The third World Statistics Day was on October 20, 2020.
• This year the theme was ‘Connecting the world with data we can trust.’
• The theme reflects the importance of trust, authoritative data, innovation and the public good in national statistical systems.
• Every year, the event is organised by the Statistics Division of the UN.
• It is celebrated every five years on October 20.
• The first World Statistics Day was celebrated on October 20, 2010.

History –

• At its 41st Session in February 2010, the United Nations Statistical Commission declared 20th October, 2010 as the first World Statistics Day.
• The day is celebrated to acknowledge the importance of timely, consistent and reliable data and other statistical indicators of a country’s progress in formulating, implementing and monitoring the key policy decision taken by the government.
• The first-ever World Statistics Day was celebrated with theme ‘Celebrating the many achievements of official statistics.’
• The second World Statistics Day was celebrated on 20th October, 2015 with theme ‘Better data, better lives.’. 

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

9.1 CuRED – the CSIR partnered clinical trial website

 

Key points –

• Union health and science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan has launched CuRED.
• CuRED is a website that gives comprehensive info about the numerous Covid-19 clinical trials that the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is engaged in partnership with industry, other government departments and ministries.
• CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs (CuRED) gives information about the drugs, diagnostics and devices including the current stage of the trials, partnering institutions,their role in the trials and other details.

   Important details –

• CSIR is also exploring multiple combination clinical trials of anti-virals with host directed therapies for the potential treatment of Covid-19.
• It is working with the The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH Ministry) for conducting clinical trials of AYUSH drugs.
• It has also undertaken safety & efficacy trials of AYUSH prophylactics and therapeutics based on individual plant-based compounds and in combination.
• Apart from these, CSIR is also involved in clinical trials of diagnostics and devices.

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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 World Sight Day was observed on the second Thursday of October 2020.
• The UK India Business Council on September 25, 2020 signed an MoU with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, to focus on accelerating industrial development in the state.
• According to UN’s ‘The Levels & Trends in Child Mortality' Report 2020’ released recently, under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in India in 2019 was 34.
• PM  Modi in Aug 2020 announced that Sept will be observed as “Nutrition Month”.
• ILO released its ‘Youth and Covid-19: impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being’ survey recently.

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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