Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 30-11-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 30-11-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Farmer’s protests – Farmers reject Centre’s call for talks, say Burari is an open jail – Farmer groups have rejected the Home Minister’s conditional invitation for talks, and refused to shift to the designated protest grounds in Burari, calling it an “open jail”. Tens of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, are massed at the borders of Delhi, demanding the repeal of the Centre’s three agricultural reform laws and withdrawal of an electricity Bill. Equipped with rations that could last for months, they have threatened to block five of the entry points into the capital if their demands are not heard. Noting that farmers had hauled along bedding and food rations for at least four months on their tractors. In a letter on November 28, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla reiterated Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal to farmers to move to the grounds in northeastern Delhi, after which they would be called for a meeting.
2. Terrorism – 26/11 key accused wanted ‘medal’ for ‘top class’ input – Tahawwur Rana, key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, wanted it to be conveyed to one of the Pakistani co-conspirators a year after the 2008 attacks that he deserved a ‘medal’ for ‘top class’ contribution and that the “Indians deserved it,” papers filed by the U.S. government in a California court say. The U.S. authorities told the court that “the Secretary of State, and not the court, decides whether the fugitive should be surrendered to the requesting country”. Rana, wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the 2008 terror attack case, is currently lodged in a Los Angeles prison, awaiting extradition to India.
3. Education – CBSE releases new paper pattern for class X, XII boards – The CBSE recently released sample question papers for class X and XII board exams 2021. The question papers follow a new exam pattern, wherein the students have more internal choices in a particular section and subsequently, the marking scheme has also been revised. In the new exam pattern, more than 10% weightage has been provided to multiple-choice questions (MCQs). For instance, earlier the class XII mathematics question paper was divided into four sections and there was no overall choice. Section A comprised of 20 questions of 1 mark each, section B had 6 questions of 2 marks, section C comprised of 6 questions of 4 marks and Section D had 4 questions of 6 marks each. As per the new exam pattern, the paper is divided into two sections, where Part A has objective type questions and carries 24 marks whereas and Part B carries 56 marks. The 6 mark questions have been eliminated from the paper.
4. Sociopolitical – PM reviews coronavirus vaccine development process at Zydus Cadila, Ahmedabad & Serum Institute of India, Pune – PM Modi reviewed coronavirus vaccine development process across various centres in the country. PM Modi visited three vaccine development hubs including Zydus Cadila's plant in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech which is working on India's own vaccine named Covaxin in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune. PM Modi visited Zydus Cadila's plant near Ahmedabad. Official sources said though the state government had sent names of Chief Minister and other dignitaries to receive Modi at the Air Force Station, the PMO was given clearance for only five officials. An official release from the PIB said Modi visited the facility to personally review the COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing process.
5. India Social – EPFO extends time limit  for Pensioners – In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vulnerability of elderly population to Corona Virus, EPFO has extended the time limit up to 28th February 2021 for submission of Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra-JPP) in respect of the Pensioners drawing pension under EPS 1995 and whose Life certificate is due in any month till February 28, 2021. Presently a Pensioner can submit JPP anytime during the year upto 30th November,  which is valid for a period of one year from the date of issue.
6. India and its neighbourhood – Sri Lanka hosts national security advisor trilateral meeting – Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is visiting Colombo between November 27 and 28 to take part in the fourth NSA Level Meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation hosted by Sri Lanka this time. The first such meeting in six years, the dialogue mechanism involves the Maldives, in addition to India and Sri Lanka. As the Indian Ministry of External Affairs statement announcing Doval’s trip noted, the 2014 meeting also saw the participation of Mauritius and Seychelles. This is the second time Doval is visiting the island nation, after a January trip. The NSA-level meeting is significant for two reasons. First, it involves both the Maldives and Sri Lanka and secondly how how India’s Doval, is perceived there.
7. World – 31 Afghan soldiers killed in attack on base – At least 34 people were killed in two separate suicide bombings in Afghanistan that targeted a military base and a provincial chief. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks, which took place as Afghan government representatives and the Taliban hold face-to-face talks in Qatar for the first time to end the country’s decades-long war. In eastern Ghazni province, 31 soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded when the attacker drove a military humvee full of explosives onto an Army commando base before detonating the car bomb.
8. World – French police face charges over black man’s beating – Four French police officers should face charges over the beating and racial abuse of a black music producer, Paris’s top prosecutor said on Sunday, an incident that intensified controversy over a new security law. Tens of thousands protested across France on Saturday against the security Bill — which would restrict the right of the press to publish the faces of on-duty police — with the rally in Paris ending in bitter clashes. The beating of music producer Michel Zecler — exposed in video footage published last week — has become a rallying cause for anger against the police in France, accused by critics of institutionalised racism, including singling out blacks and Arabs.
9. World  – Ethiopia launches search for Tigray leaders – The Ethiopian government launched a manhunt for leaders of a rebellious faction in the northern region of Tigray after announcing federal troops had taken over the regional capital Mekele and military operations were complete. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said hospitals in Mekele are running low on supplies such as gloves to care for the wounded, and one hospital is lacking body bags for the dead. PM Ahmed has been trying to quell a rebellion by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a powerful ethnically-based party that dominated the central government for nearly three decades before Mr. Abiy came to power in 2018.
10. Defence – Indian Navy inducts two American drones on lease -  In a first, India has inducted two American drones — Sea Guardian, unarmed version of the deadly Predator series — into the Navy on lease under the emergency procurement in the backdrop of the tensions with China in Ladakh. Even though the drones, MQ-9 Guardian/Predator-B, have been leased from an American firm, General Atomics, for a year for surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region, it could also be used in Ladakh. 

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Min. of Envi., Forest & Climate Change	Legal Asst, MTS, LDC/ UDC, Technical Officer, Scientist C, D	7	Matriculation, 12th Class, Degree, PG	NOV-26-2020	http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NIC_Contractual-Staff_IRO_19.11.2020.pdf
2	NTPC Limited	Diploma Engineer	70	Diploma	DEC-12-2020	https://www.freejobalert.com/ntpc-recruitment/17710/#DiplomaEngineer
3	Indian Air Force	Airmen (Group Y – Non-Technical Trades)	-	Intermediate / 10+2	NOV-27-2020	https://airmenselection.cdac.in/CASB/img/upcoming/rally/PUDUCHERRY%20RALLY%20GP%20'Y'.pdf
4	Min. of Env., Forest & Climate Change	Legal Asst, MTS, LDC/ UDC, Technical Officer, Scientist C, D	7	Matriculation, 12th Class, Degree, PG	DEC-26-2020	http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NIC_Contractual-Staff_IRO_19.11.2020.pdf
5	Dr. YSR Aarogyasri HCT, Nellore	Aarogya Mithra & Team Leader	8	B.Sc, M.SC (Nursing), B Pharma, B.Sc	NOV-25-2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s39c82c7143c102b71c593d98d96093fde/uploads/2020/11/2020112141.pdf
6	Dr. YSR Aarogyasri HCT, Krishna	Aarogya Mithra & Team Leader	13	B.Sc, M.SC (Nursing), B Pharma, B.Sc	NOV-28-2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3c399862d3b9d6b76c8436e924a68c45b/uploads/2020/11/2020112115.pdf
7	Indian Air Force	Airmen (Group Y – Non-Technical Trades)	-	Intermediate / 10+2	DEC-22-2020	https://airmenselection.cdac.in/CASB/img/upcoming/rally/PUDUCHERRY%20RALLY%20GP%20'Y'.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 Weekly Roundup – Banking and Finance

• In a move aimed at speeding up the liquidation process, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) amended its regulations to allow a corporate debtor’s asset that is “not readily realisable” to be transferred to a third party in consultation with stakeholders. Creditors can also transfer debt due to them to a third party during the liquidation process to benefit creditors who may not be willing to wait for completion of the process.
• A report of the Internal Working Group of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), set up to review ownership in private banks, has recommended allowing bank promoters to hold 26% over a period of 15 years from the current 15%. It has also spoken in favour of allowing industrial houses as bank promoters with legislative changes to the Banking Regulation Act.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an Innovation Hub for the financial sector and appointed Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan, co-founder and former co-chairman of Infosys, as the chairperson of the governing council for the entity. The aim of the RBIH (Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH)) is to create an eco-system that would “focus on promoting access to financial services and products. This will also promote financial inclusion.”
• The Reserve Bank of India has proposed merging financially troubled Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) with DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL). As part of the proposal, DBIL, the wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based DBS Bank, will inject Rs 2,500 crore into the merged entity to support its financial position. On November 17, the RBI put Lakshmi Vilas Bank under a moratorium that capped customer withdrawals at Rs 25,000 till December 16 after “serious deterioration” in the lender’s finances. The limit is on a per customer basis, and not on a per account basis.
• Global investment management firm T Rowe Price has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the trustee of UTI Asset Management Company. The deal will give it over 51% stake in the trustee even as the stake of three public sector shareholders -- State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda & Life Insurance Corporation of India -- will fall to under 10% in UTI Trustee Company..

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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 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People observed on November 29

• The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed each year on 29 November.
• Established in 1977, it marks the day in 1947 when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution partitioning Palestine into an Arab State and a Jewish State.

Committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis -

• The UN Secretary-General said that he remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements in pursuit of the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and sovereign Palestine – living side by side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

Condolences -

• Mr. Guterres also extended his condolences on the passing, earlier this month, of Saeb Erakat, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General and Chief Negotiator for Palestinians in the Middle East Peace Process.

Financial situation of UNRWA  

• Mr. Guterres also voiced concerns over the financial situation facing the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which provides direct and often life-saving assistance to millions of Palestine refugees.
• This year, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People will be observed on 1 December with special meetings.

4.2 China’s first domestically made nuclear reactor 'Hualong One' starts operating

 

• According to China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) its first Hualong One, a third-generation pressurised water nuclear reactor, has started operations and is connected to the grid.
• The design, seen as competition to the Westinghouse-developed AP1000 and Europe's EPR, is deployed in the 1,150-megawatt Fuqing Unit 5 in the southeastern province of Fujian.
• Hualong One is designed to have a 60-year lifespan and its reactor core needs refuelling every 18 months.
• The second Hualong One at Fuqing, Unit 6, is scheduled for completion in 2021.
• China currently has six overseas Hualong One projects under construction.
• The technology has more than 700 patents and 120 software copyrights, and all of its 411 core parts are designed and made domestically.
• It has 177 reactor cores, which will be replaced every 18 months.

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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 – Awards and Honours

• Winners of United Nations Population Award announced - Bhutan’s Queen Mother Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck has been awarded the United Nations Population Award in the individual category for 2020 for her work on sexual health and ending gender violence. The awardee in the organisational category is HelpAge India that works on elder care.
• Douglas Stuart wins 2020 Booker Prize - New York-based Scottish writer Douglas Stuart on November 19, 2020 won the 2020 Booker Prize worth £50,000 for his debut novel ‘Shuggie Bain’, a coming of age story set in Glasgow. The Booker Prize for Fiction was first awarded in 1969 and is open to writers of any nationality, writing in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
• Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2020 announced -  10th edition of the Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2020, were announced on November 20, 2020. This year, some 75 people working in media won awards and 18 received jury citations. Laadli, a campaign that works for the empowerment of women and gender equality, is an initiative of the Mumbai-based NGO Population First.
• Indo-Japan cooperation wins OECD MAP 2019 award - The India-Japan Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) has won the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Mutual Agreement Procedure 2019 Award for highest agreement ratio for a pair of jurisdictions for transfer pricing cases.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 UP Governor promulgates ordinance against forcible religious conversions

 

 News – 

• In recent weeks, BJP-run states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have revealed plans to enact laws to counter alleged attempts to convert Hindu women to Islam in the guise of marriage, which Hindu activists refer to as "love jihad".
• Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel gave assent to an ordinance against forcible or fraudulent religious conversions that provides for imprisonment up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 under different categories.

Key Features –

• The promulgation of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, came four days after the Yogi Adityanath government had approved the draft of the legislation which also curbs religious conversions only for the sake of marriage.
• According to the ordinance, a marriage will be declared "null and void" if the conversion of a woman is solely for that purpose and those wishing to change their religion after marriage need to apply to the district magistrate.
• It also has a provision under which if someone returns to their original religion, it shall not be deemed a conversion. While the onus to prove that the conversion has not been done forcibly will lie on the person accused of the act and the convert.
•  In case of contravention of the law, the ordinance says that the court shall grant appropriate compensation payable by the accused to the victim of conversion which may extend to a maximum of Rs 5 lakh in addition to the fine.
• An aggrieved person, his/her parents, brother, sister, or any other person who is related to him/her by blood, marriage or adoption may lodge an FIR about such conversion, according to the ordinance.
• In cases of mass religious conversion, the registration of the social organisations will be cancelled, and strong action will be initiated against them.
• If those previously convicted under the ordinance are caught again for the same offence, they shall be subjected to double punishment.
• Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, all the offences under this ordinance shall be cognisable and non bailable and triable by the sessions court.

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

8.1 Report - Lifetime risk of diabetes in metropolitan cities in India 

Key Features -

• More than half of men (55%) and some two-thirds (65%) of women aged 20 years in India will likely develop diabetes, with most of those cases (around 95%) likely to be type 2 diabetes.
• India already has a significant health burden caused by diabetes and estimates suggest that 77 million adults have diabetes and this is expected to almost double to 134 million by 2045.
• New estimates from India are much closer to estimates of lifetime risk of 20-year-olds among the black and Hispanic populations in the U.S. (above 50%), groups considered at a higher risk than the general population.

Factors responsible -

• Urbanisation, decreasing diet quality and decreased levels of physical activity — are all contributing to this hidden epidemic.

Other Features -

• Women generally had a higher lifetime risk across the lifespan.
• For those currently aged 60 years and free of diabetes, around 38% of women and 28% of men would develop diabetes.
• Obesity had a substantial impact on these projections.
• The risk was highest among obese metropolitan Indians — 86% among 20-year-old women and 87% among men.

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

9.1 ICMR approves CSIR's COVID-19 testing method   

Key Features –

• The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a simple and fast method for COVID-19 testing which can not only increase the number of RT-PCR tests but can also bring down costs.
• The method -- Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR -- developed by CSIR's Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, is a variation of the existing gold standard RT-PCR method and can easily scale up the testing by 2 to 3 fold with no new investment of resources.
• The CCMB has been testing samples for coronavirus since April.
• Having worked closely with healthcare workers of Telangana, it identified some of the key issues that slow the testing process. In response to it, the researchers developed the Dry Swab RNA-extraction free testing method for COVID-19.

Easy to use -

• The Dry Swab-Direct RT-PCR method involves collecting and transporting the nasal swab in dry state, as opposed to using the viral transport medium VTM, which makes the transportation and handling of the samples easy and less prone to spillage and spread of infection.
• Secondly, the step of RNA isolation from the sample is omitted and involves only simple processing of the sample followed by direct RT-PCR using the kit recommended by the ICMR.

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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 -

• Gold and silver coins on Vaishno Devi were released by the government in Nov 2020.
• Mahima Ranga Betta was announced as biodiversity heritage site in Karnataka recently?.
• World Cities Day was observed on October 31, 2020.
• Former captain of Indian Football team Carlton Chapman passed away in Oct 2020 at the age of 49 in Bengaluru.
• Russia tested hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile named Tsirkon in Oct 2020.

10.3 Today's best editorials to read

• We offer you 7 excellent editorials from across 10 newspapers we have scanned. 

CLICK HERE TO OPEN AND READ!

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• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Solve the online quiz given, right now. Check scores, and relative performance!

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