Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 05-11-2020

Daily Current Affairs,DCA-CS,November 2020,

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Society – SC lays down guidelines for matrimonial cases – The Supreme Court has held that deserted wives and children are entitled to alimony/maintenance from their husbands from the date they apply for it in a court of law. In a significant judgment by a Bench of Justices Indu Malhotra and R. Subhash Reddy, the top court said women deserted by husbands were left in dire straits, often reduced to destitution, for lack of means to sustain themselves and their children. The 67-page judgment by Justice Malhotra laid down uniform and comprehensive guidelines for family courts, magistrates and lower courts to follow while hearing applications filed by women seeking maintenance from their estranged husbands.
2. Economy – Oct. services sector PMI signals first expansion since February – Indian services sector activity ended the seven-month sequence of decline and registered growth in October, supported by improved market conditions amid easing COVID-19 restrictions. At 54.1 in October, up from 49.8 in September, the seasonally adjusted India Services Business Activity Index posted above the 50.0 no-change mark for the first time since February. A print above 50 means expansion and a score below that denotes contraction, as per the IHS Markit India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
3. Economy – 87% cos plan to hike salaries in ’21: Survey – Employees have a reason to cheer as 87% of companies plan to hike salaries in 2021 as compared to 71% this year, as India Inc bets on a speedy recovery. And, among the organisations that plan to increase salaries, more than 60% intend to offer hikes of between 5% and 10%. In 2020, only 45% of the companies that handed out hikes did so in the same range, showed the latest Salary Trends Survey in India by Aon, which analysed data across 1,050 companies from more than 20 industries. The average salary hike in the ongoing calendar year stood at around 6% — the lowest witnessed in 23 years of the survey. In 2021, during which two-thirds of the companies either aim to provide similar or higher increments compared to those offered in 2020, the average salary hike has been projected at a little over 7%.
4. Research/Study – Covid care increases trust index of Indian cos: Survey – The Indian workforce has emerged as most satisfied worldwide with employers’ response to the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 53% of India’s employees trust their employers more now than before the pandemic began, because of how the organisations responded to the crisis. That is a proportion that is highest among all nations surveyed by The Workforce Institute at Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG). A majority of Indian workforce also said that their organisations should have responded more qickly to Covid-19 early on. Employees said offices should have been closed faster and safety measures for essential workers should have been implemented sooner. About 38% felt their employers prioritised their emotional and mental well-being during the pandemic. This figure was higher than the proportion that conveyed similar sentiment in the US (36%) and the UK (20%).
5. COVID-19 – 50k+ new cases mark 11-day high, toll crosses 700 on Wed – Fresh Covid-19 cases in the country rose to an 11-day high on Wednesday (November 4) while the day’s death toll crossed 700 after 14 days, as the virus showed signs of a surge in some states. India reported 50,554 new infections on Wednesday, the first time in a week that the count had crossed 50,000. This was the fourth successive day when the daily count was slightly higher than the corresponding day of the previous week, pointing to growing signs of a flattening of the Covid curve that had been falling sharply for the past seven weeks. Covid-related deaths recorded during the day spiked to 713. Kerala continued to report the highest number of fresh infections in the country, with 8,516 cases detected on Wednesday. Delhi logged its highest single-day count of 6,842 cases and had the second highest tally in the country, followed by Maharashtra with 5,505.
6. World – U.S. formally exits Paris pact on curbing climate change – The United States has formally left the Paris Agreement, a global pact forged five years ago to avert the threat of catastrophic climate change. The move, long threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump and triggered by his administration a year ago, further isolates the U.S. in the world. Some 189 countries remain committed to the 2015 Paris accord, which aims to keep the increase in average temperatures worldwide “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, ideally no more than 1.5C, compared to pre-industrial levels. A further six countries have signed, but not ratified the pact. Scientists say that any rise beyond 2 degrees Celsius could have a devastating impact on large parts of the world, raising sea levels, stoking tropical storms and worsening droughts and floods. The Paris accord requires countries to set their own voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
7. Polity & Governance – Trump alleges ‘ballot dumps’ in some States – U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that there had been “surprise ballot dumps” in States where he had been leading Democrat Joe Biden in the race for the White House. Mr. Trump did not offer any evidence for his allegation of “ballot dumps” and there have been no reports of any irregularities. The leads in numerous states have shifted back-and-forth between the candidates as votes are counted. Mr. Trump, who overnight prematurely declared himself the winner of Tuesday’s (November 3) election, has spent months denouncing mail-in ballots, making unsubstantiated claims that they are liable to fraud.
8. Defence – Pinaka Systems Successfully tested – The indigenous Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket system, with an enhanced strike range of 45-60 km, was successfully tested at the integrated test range at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on November 4. A total of six rockets were launched in quick succession and the tests met all the mission objectives. Development of the enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to the earlier design with reduced length. A total of six rockets were launched in quick succession and the tests met all the mission objectives. Development of the enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to the earlier design with reduced length.
9. Art & Culture – Highest Shiva temple may get ASI tag – The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has sought approval from the Centre to declare Tungnath temple in the Garhwal Himalayas as a “monument of national importance” and start work on its conservation. The temple, situated in Rudraprayag district, is believed to be more than 1,000 years old and is situated at an altitude of over 12,000 feet, making it the highest Shiva temple in the world. It is also referred to as ‘Tritiya Kedar’, since it is part of the ‘Panch Kedar’ cluster of Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalayas.
10. Defence – Second batch of 3 Rafale jets lands in India – The second batch of three Rafale fighters touched down in India from France on Wednesday (November 4) night, joining the first five jets that had arrived at the Ambala airbase on July 29. As per the delivery schedule, three to four jets will reach India every two to three months till all the 36 are delivered under the Rs 59,000 crore deal inked with France in September 2016. The first five Rafales, which were formally inducted into service at the Ambala airbase on September 10, have conducted “familiarisation sorties” in Ladakh amidst the ongoing military confrontation in the high-altitude region with China.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	CSIO	Project Assistant, Project Associate & Other	15	Dip (Engg), Deg, M.Sc, Ph.D	NOV-18-2020	https://www.csio.res.in/upload/RecruitmentNotice/Advt.6(2020).pdf
2	Braithwate Burn & Jessop Constr. Comp. Ltd	Asst Engineer (Civil/ Mechanical)	6	Diploma, BE/ B.Tech (Civil, Mech. Engg.)	NOV-18-2020	https://bbjconst.com/jobs/employment-notification-03112020.pdf
3	POSOCO	Diploma Trade Apprentice	5	Diploma (Engg.)	NOV-30-2020	https://posoco.in/IA/rectdoc/Advertisement_Apprenticeship%20Training_NLDC.pdf
4	ESIC-PGIMSR & ESIC Medical College, Kolkata	Senior Resident	13	DNB/ Diploma, MD/ MS	25 & 26-11-2020	https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/recruitmentfile/777365724014b7e5ded78afc83944227.pdf
5	THDC India Limited	ITI Trade Apprentice	120	10th Class & ITI	DEC-1-2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/thdc/15783/
6	BEL	Grad. Eng. Apprentice	50	BE/ B.Tech	NOV-23-2020	https://www.bel-india.in/Documentviews.aspx?fileName=Graduate-Advt-2020-English-03-11-2020.pdf
7	BEL	Trainee Eng.-I, II, & Officer-I, Project Eng.-I, Pro. Officer	125	B.E/ B.Tech (Engg), MBA/ MCA	NOV-25-2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/bel/16294/#TraineeEngineer

 

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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 Abu Dhabi sovereign fund first becomes first to get 100% tax exemption in infra

 

 Key point –

• Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) - MIC Redwood 1 RSC Limited - has become the first foreign SWF that has been notified and granted 100% income-tax exemption for the long-term investments to be made in the specified priority sectors in India.
• Important details –
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the MIC Redwood 1 RSC Limited, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as sovereign wealth fund for the purpose of section 10(23FE) exemption.
• Any income in the nature of dividend, interest or LTCG arising from an investment made by it on or after November 2, 2020, but on or before March 31, 2024, shall be entitled for exemption subject to the fulfilment of specified conditions.
• Officials claim that India has gradually opened up the economy for FDI, except very few sectors and has also extended a lot of tax concessions for sovereign funds to attract long-term investments in India’s infrastructure sector.
• This 100% income-tax exemption facility has been well received by the SWFs and Pension Funds across the globe and a large number of SWFs and Pension Funds have shown interest in making an investment in India’s infrastructure sector.
• CBDT has issued detailed guidelines on 22nd July 2020 to facilitate the process of SWFs’ notification. Notified foreign Pension Funds were also granted similar exemption subject to fulfilment of certain prescribed conditions.
• As per reports, in order to expedite foreign investment in India’s priority areas during the Covid pandemic time, the process of notification of the MIC Redwood 1 RSC Limited was completed in a record time.

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

3.1 Panna Tiger Reserve a biosphere reserve now

  

Highlights –  

• Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh (MP) has been included in the global network of biosphere reserves by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
• Every year, UNESCO designates new Biosphere reserves and remove others to promote the conservation of biodiversity and resolve man-animal conflict at that site and enable sustainable use of natural resources.
• In 2019, Panna Tiger Reserve witnessed a remarkable turnaround in tiger population by increasing the number of big cats to 50 from zero estimated a decade ago.
• The Tiger Reintroduction Project started in 2009 by bringing five female and two male felines from Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks.
• Covering an area of approximately 542.67 sq km, the thick deciduous forest of the Panna National Reserve is the natural habitat of sloth, Indian wolf, Bear Pangolin, Leopard, Gharial, Indian fox and a lot more.
• While visiting the park, tourists also get to witness stone carvings that date back to the Neolithic era.
• The Panna National Park got the status of Project Tiger Reserve 13 years after its formation in 1981.
• Report by the All India Tiger Estimation made Madhya Pradesh the state with the highest number of tigers. The state had a total of 526 big cats according to 2018 census.
• After Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand have the highest number of tigers.

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

4.1 First nuclear power plant in Belarus

 

Key points – 

• Belarus' first nuclear power plant has begun operating – a project that has spooked its neighbor Lithuania, which immediately cut off importing electricity from Belarus at the news.
• 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, the Russian-built Astravyets nuclear power plant has been connected to Belarus' power grid and has started producing electricity.

Highlights –

• Lithuanian authorities long have opposed the plant's construction, arguing that the project has been plagued by accidents, stolen materials and the mistreatment of workers.
• In line with the country's law banning electricity imports from Belarus once the plant starts, Lithuania's Litgrid power operator cut the inflow of electricity from Belarus upon receiving data that the Astravyets nuclear reactor had started producing energy.
• Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which built the plant, has rejected the Lithuanian complaints, saying the plant's design conforms to the highest international standards as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• The corporation has also insisted that it has a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and an internal control system that ensures that any illegal or inappropriate practices are stopped and prosecuted.
• It has argued that the project’s launch would help reduce the region’s carbon emissions by up to 10 million tons of CO2 equivalent every year.
• The power plant’s construction was delayed when the reactor’s hull slipped to the ground in July 2016 after workers failed to strap it properly during installation. Rosatom insisted at the time that the reactor wasn’t damaged, but it agreed to replace the unit at the demand of Belarusian authorities.
• Belarus suffered severe damage from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which spewed radioactive fallout from a plant in then-Soviet Ukraine across large areas of Europe. This painful legacy has fueled opposition to the nuclear plant project in Belarus.
• Lithuania closed its sole Soviet-built nuclear power plant in 2009 and has forbidden the purchase of energy from Belarus.
• Recently, Lithuanian authorities have handed out free iodine pills to residents living near the Belarus border. Iodine is able to help reduce radiation build-up in the thyroid in case of a leak of radioactivity.

4.2 Weekly Round-up I – Foreign Affairs I

• The Union Cabinet on October 21, 2020 approved the mutual recognition agreement between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA). This would enable appropriately qualified chartered accountant members of either institutes to join the other by receiving appropriate credit for their existing accountancy qualification.
• The Indian Army on October 24, 2020 shot down a Pakistan Army quadcopter around 8 am along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran sector. The quadcopter was made by Chinese company and was shot down while it was flying over Indian positions in the region.
• After a gap of 35 years, India assumed the Chairmanship of Governing Body of International Labour Organisation (ILO), with Labour Secretary Apurva Chandra being elected to the post for the period October 2020-June 2021,” a labour ministry statement said on October 23, 2020.
• Passenger train services from Dhaka to Siliguri are planned to start from March 26, 2021, Railway Minister of Bangladesh Md. Nurul Islam Sujan said on October 22 after meeting newly appointed High Commissioner of India Vikram Doraiswami in Dhaka.
• The government on October 22 decided to restore all existing visas with immediate effect, except for the electronic, tourist and medical categories. Those allowed included Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders and all other foreign nationals can visit India for any purpose, except on a tourist visa.
• India on October 19, 2020 announced that Australia will participate in the upcoming Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in November alongwith United States, Japan and India. This will formally bring together the defence forces of the four countries in the Quad group.  
• Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Kumar Goel paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli in Kathmandu on October 22, 2020. The ties between the two countries came under strain after India inaugurated an 80-km-long road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal claimed the road passed through its territory. Later, Nepal released a new map showing India’s Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories.
• The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet on October 20, 2020 appealed to the Government of India to review the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and its compliance with international human rights norms, and regretted that it was being “used to deter or punish NGOs for human rights reporting”.
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• Vice Chief of Indian Army Lt Gen SK Saini on October 20, 2020 visited the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and held talks with senior American military commanders on ways to enhance strategic cooperation between the two forces.

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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 – Defence

• Chief of Army Staff Gen M. M. Naravane commissioned the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvette ‘INS Kavaratti’ into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam on October 22, 2020. The ship was designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design (DND), and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata.  
• India on October 19, 2020 successfully test-fired the Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile off the coast of Odisha. SANT is an airborne anti-armour guided-missile of range 15-20 km. The missile is designed for firing from Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and weaponized variant of Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
• DRDO on October 22, 2020 carried out the final user trial of the 3rd generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), Nag, at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. This was launched from NAG Missile Carrier (NAMICA). The missile will be produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), while Ordinance Factory, Medak will produce NAMICA.
• Police Commemoration Day was observed on October 21, 2020. The day is observed to pay homage to 10 policemen (of the Central Reserve Police Force) killed in an ambush by Chinese troops in 1959 in Ladakh’s Hot Spring area. Home Minister Amit Shah addressed an event at the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
• CoNS Admiral Karambir Singh visits aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya - Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh on October 22, 2020 addressed a select group of combatants of the Navy’s Carrier Battle Group over a broadcast from the INS Vikramaditya, India’s only aircraft carrier, and reviewed the force’s overall combat readiness.

6.2 Indian Coast Guard Ship C-452 commissioned in Ratnagiri

 

Highlights –

• Rajan Bargotra, Additional Director General (Western Seaboard), has commissioned Indian Coast Guard's (ICG) ship C-452 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
• The ship was indigenously designed and built by Larsen & Toubro, Surat complying with PM Modi's vision of "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat".
• In May 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451 in Goa.
• The ICGS Sachet, the first in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 India and GCC Troika hold annual Political Dialogue in virtual mode

 

Key points –

• India and the GCC Troika have held their annual Political Dialogue in virtual mode.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation.

Highlights –

• The GCC was represented at the Troika-level by Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of GCC, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bahrain and Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, UAE.
• Senior representatives from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar also participated in the meeting.
• The leaders undertook detailed review of India-GCC ties and appreciated the upward trajectory in ties witnessed in the last few years. They also expressed satisfaction that India and GCC countries have continued their close cooperation even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Dr Jaishankar apprised the GCC leaders of the improving situation in India, both on the health and economic side and also hoped for early return to trade normalcy between India and the GCC.
• India had ensured that the supply chains from India to the Gulf were not disrupted despite the lockdowns during the pandemic. India had also taken special care to ensure the return of Indian health professionals to GCC countries and for supply of medicines and other essential items during the pandemic.
• The minister mentioned that a large number of Indian workers and professionals are now eager to return to the GCC countries to resume their work. He also urged the GCC leadership to facilitate their return through sustainable travel bubble arrangements with India.
• The GCC welcomed India’s inclusion in the UNSC as a non-permanent member from January 2021.
• Both the sides affirmed their commitment to reform multilateral institutions to reflect the realities of the 21st century and to work together to address contemporary challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, sustainable development and terrorism.

Important details –

• More than eight million Indians live and work in West Asia, a majority of them within the region covered by the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Saudi Arabia has an Indian expatriate population of about 2.6 million, while UAE is home to some 3.4 million Indians.
• The GCC states are also among India’s key suppliers of energy, and annual remittances from Indians in these countries are worth an estimated $4.8 billion.

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

8.1 Not Available Today

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

9.1 Not Available Today

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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 -

• Harivansh Narayan Singh is the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
• Mirza Waheed won the ‘The Hindu Prize 2019’ in Fiction for ‘Tell Her Everything’.
• 4 kg is the annual investment limit in Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) for individuals in a fiscal year.
• Adam Higginbotham won the $5,000 William E. Colby Award in US Literature.
• Benny Gantz is the leader of Blue and White party in Israel.

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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