Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 07-12-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 07-12-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Covid – 19 Updates – After three-week plateau, India’s Covid cases show 16% drop - After staying around the same level for three weeks, fresh Covid cases in India fell this week by around 16% from the previous seven days. With this, the weekly count is now down by 62% from its peak in September 6-13, with no signs yet of a second wave of the pandemic in the country. The toll has shown no significant movement in the past four weeks and continues to hover around the 3,500-mark, with 3,539 fatalities recorded in the week (November 29-December 6). However, compared with the peak of 8,175 deaths in September 13-20, Covid-related fatalities have dropped by 58%. There were 2,45,599 new cases reported this week, down from 2,91,903 last week (November 22-29).
2. Farmer’s Protest – Support widens for Bharat Bandh call - Top Opposition leaders, in a joint statement, extended their support to the Dec 8 Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ organisations demanding a rollback of the three farm sector laws, and claimed that the new laws would “destroy Indian agriculture by mortgaging it to corporates”. The joint statement was signed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, DMK president M.K. Stalin, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D. Raja, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, among others. Leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha claimed that support for the bandh had poured in from transport unions, women’s and students’ organisations and federations of industry, apart from political parties.
3. World – ‘Microwave attack likely making US diplomats abroad ill’ - The most probable cause of a series of mysterious afflictions that have sickened American spies and diplomats abroad in the past several years was radio-frequency energy, a type of radiation that includes microwaves. The conclusion by a committee of 19 experts cited “directed, pulsed radio-frequency energy” as “the most plausible mechanism” to explain the illness, known as Havana syndrome, although secondary factors may have contributed. The strange illness struck scores of government employees, first at the US embassy in Havana in 2016, and subsequently in China and other countries. Many of the officers suffered from dizziness, fatigue, headaches and loss of hearing, memory and balance, and some were forced into per manent retirement. CIA officers visiting overseas stations experienced similar symptoms.
4. World – Trump challenges vote results at rally - President Donald Trump is pressing his grievances over losing the presidential election, using a weekend rally to spread baseless allegations of misconduct in last month’s voting in Georgia and beyond even as he pushed supporters to turn out for a pair of Republican Senate candidates in a runoff election in January. Mr. Trump’s 100-minute rally before thousands of largely maskless supporters came not long after he was rebuffed by Georgia’s Republican Governor in his astounding call for a special legislative session to give him the State’s electoral votes, even though President-elect Joe Biden won the majority of the vote. The Jan 5 Senate runoffs in Georgia will determine the balance of power in Washington after Mr. Biden takes office. Republicans in the State are worried that Mr. Trump is stoking so much suspicion about Georgia elections that voters will think the system is rigged and decide to sit out the two races.
5. Science and Technology – Japan's capsule with asteroid samples retrieved in Australia - A Japanese capsule carrying the world's first asteroid subsurface samples shot across the night atmosphere early Sunday before landing in the remote Australian Outback, completing a mission to provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth. The spacecraft Hayabusa2 released the small capsule on Saturday and sent it toward Earth to deliver samples from a distant asteroid. At about 10 kilometers (6 miles) aboveground, a parachute was opened to slow its fall and beacon signals were transmitted to indicate its location in the sparsely populated area of Woomera in southern Australia. About two hours after the reentry, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said its helicopter search team found the capsule in the planned landing area. The retrieval of the pan-shaped capsule, about 40 centimeters (15 inches) in diameter, was completed after another two hours.
6. Economy – Govt decides to setup Export Promotion Council for Ayush products - Commerce, Industry and AYUSH ministries have decided to work together to set up an Export Promotion Council to boost AYUSH exports. This decision was taken at a review meeting of AYUSH trade and industry by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik. It was also decided that the entire AYUSH sector will work together to achieve price and quality competitiveness to boost exports. The review meeting was held through video conference. It was attended by nearly 50 industry and trade leaders from the AYUSH Sector. More than 2000 stake-holders of the AYUSH Sector also attended the e-event through live streaming on virtual platforms.
7. Science and Technology - Zebrafish being used as a research model to promote heart regeneration - The research has been carried by Scientists of Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute. Zebrafish is a tiny freshwater fish barely 2-3 cm long. It can efficiently regenerate its damaged heart within a short time period. It is found in the tropical and subtropical regions. The fish is native to South Asia’s Indo-Gangetic plains, where they are mostly found in the paddy fields and even in stagnant water and streams. It is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name Danio. It is also notable for its regenerative abilities and has been modified by researchers to produce many transgenic strains.
8. International Relations - China gives ‘go ahead’ for New Dam on Brahmaputra - China has given the go ahead for a Chinese hydropower company to construct the first downstream hydropower project on the lower reaches of the river Brahmaputra. The state-owned hydropower company signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government to implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo river as part of the new Five Year Plan (2021-2025). This will be the first time the downstream sections of the river will be tapped. The location of the planned project has not been mentioned anywhere. This 50 km section alone offers a potential of developing 70 million kilowatt hours (Kwh).
9. Environment and Ecology - Bihar plans migratory bird festival - Bihar is holding a bird festival for the first time as part of its initiative to save migratory birds that arrive in the state in large numbers every year. The festival is being organised in eastern Bihar’s Bhagalpur district which has special significance. This was because the 60-kilometre-long stretch of the Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon had long been a hub of migratory birds. Some prominent migratory birds arriving in Bhagalpur include bar-headed goose, steppe eagle, Ferruginous duck, Eurasian curlew, white wagtail, great crested grebe, common greenshank and Eurasian coot.
10. Society: Women Empowerment – AG emphasized on greater gender sensitization – Lately, the Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal, in his written submission to the Supreme Court (SC), has emphasised the need for greater gender sensitisation among members of the judiciary and highlighted that the figure of female judges has been consistently low across the Higher Judiciary. The SC had asked AG and others to recommend ways to improve gender sensitivity towards victims while laying down bail conditions for sex crime offenders. The Madhya Pradesh (MP) High Court (HC) asked a man (accused in a case of attempting to outrage the modesty of a woman) to visit the home of the alleged victim and request her to tie a rakhi.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	NAARM	Young Professional-II	6	Deg (CS, IT), PG (Agri Sc)	22-12-2020	https://naarm.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2.-Common-Advt.-for-YP-II-in-Dec-2020.pdf
2	IOCL, Haldia Refinery	J. Eng. Asst - IV, Junior Quality Control Analyst-IV	5	Matric, Dip. (Ele. Eng), B. Sc	21-12-2020	https://iocl.com/PeopleCareers/download/PH-R-01-2020_Detailed_Advt._Final.pdf
3	IARI	Sr Research Fellow,Young Professional II	6	M.Sc. / MCA / ME or MTech	15-12-2020	https://iari.res.in/bic/projectnew32/admin/jobs/SRFYP_19112020.pdf
4	IIT, Delhi	Project Scientist, Sr. Project Scientist	6	B.Tech./ M.Sc/ M.Tech	14-12-2020	http://ird.iitd.ac.in/sites/default/files/jobs/project/IIRD-IRD-183-2020.pdf
5	VNIT, Nagpur	Sr Project Engineer, Project Engineer, Project Asst.	5	Degree (Engg)	07-12-2020	https://vnit.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Advertisement-IIM-Nagpur-03-Dec-2020-3-6.pdf#new_tab

 

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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 Round-up – Banking and Finance

• Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) said that the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) working group recommendations on awarding new licenses to well-managed Indian non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) could improve financial stability. S&P is however, sceptical of allowing corporate ownership in banks given India's weak corporate governance record amid large corporate defaults over the past few years.
• All the branches of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) will function as branches of DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL) and LVB customers, including depositors, will be able to operate as DBIL customers from November 27. Giving finality to the efforts towards salvaging financially troubled LVB, the Union Cabinet on November 25 gave its nod to merge LVB with DBIL. While DBS Bank India has just 30 branches, the Chennai-headquartered LVB has more than 550 branches and 900-plus ATMs across India.
• The Reserve Bank of India has rejected Kerala-based Muthoot Finance’s proposal to acquire IDBI AMC on the ground that, “the activity of sponsoring a Mutual Fund or owning an AMC is not in consonance with the activity of an operating NBFC.

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

3.1 2020 – to be one of the warmest years on record 

 

 

The State of the Global Climate 2020 report –

• The year 2020 is likely to go down as one of the warmest in history with global temperatures about 1.2°C above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) level.
• 2011-20 will be the warmest decade on record, with the warmest six years all coming since 2015.
• The warmest year on record is 2016, followed closely by 2020.
• Experts said there is at least a one in five chance of global temperatures temporarily exceeding the pre-industrial level by 1.5°C by 2024.
• The UN agency’s provisional report is based on data findings between January-October 2020. A final report will be released in March 2021.
• The most notable warming was observed across northern Asia, particularly the Siberian Arctic, where temperatures were more than 5°C above average.
• Ocean heat content for 2019 was highest on record in the datasets going back to 1960. There is a clear signal for faster heat uptake in recent decades. More than 90% of the excess energy accumulating in the climate system as a result of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases goes into the ocean.
• The number of tropical cyclones globally was above average in 2020, with 96 cyclones as of 17 November.
• In India, Cyclone Amphan was the costliest tropical cyclone on record for the North Indian Ocean with reported economic losses in India of approximately US$14 billion.
• To view complete report visit here - https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/climate/wmo-statement-state-of-global-climate 

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

4.1 Not Available Today 

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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 PASSEX conducted by India and Russia

 

 

Highlights –

• The Indian Navy (IN) undertook a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from 4 to 5 December 2020.
• The exercise involved participation of RuFN guided missile cruiser Varyag, large anti-submarine ship AdmiralPanteleyev and medium ocean tanker Pechenga.
• IN was represented by indigenously constructed guided missile frigate Shivalik and anti-submarine corvette Kadmatt along with integral helicopters.
• The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies, and would involve advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, weapon firings, seamanship exercises and helicopter operations.
• PASSEXs are conducted regularly by IN with units of friendly foreign navies, whilst visiting each other’s ports or during a rendezvous at sea.
• The exercise, being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region, reflects the strong long-term strategic relationship between the two countries and particularly, defence cooperation in the maritime domain.
• This exercise was conducted on the occasion of ‘Navy Day’ of the IN on 4th December, which emphasizes the strong bonds of friendship shared between the two friendly militaries.
• This PASSEX was believed to be another step towards strengthening Indo-Russian defence relations.
• The two navies have built a robust relationship through regular exercises such as INDRA Navy conducted biennially, with the last edition held in the Northern Indian Ocean Region from 4 to 5 September 2020.

6.2 Weekly Round-up – Arts and Culture

• Indian-origin MP Gaurav Sharma takes oath in Sanskrit - Dr Gaurav Sharma (33), newly-elected MP of Labour Party in New Zealand, on November 25, 2020 took oath in Sanskrit in the country’s Parliament.
• Actor Dave Prowse passed away at 85 - Dave Prowse, the British weightlifter-turned-actor who played the role of arch-villain Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, died at the age of 85. Born in 1935, Prowse represented England in weightlifting at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. Prowse donned Darth Vader’s black armour and helmet for Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
• ‘Delhi Crime’ of Netflix wins award at International Emmy Awards - Web series ‘Delhi Crime’ has won the Best Drama Series award at the 48th International Emmy Awards. The show becomes the first Indian programme to win an International Emmy. Directed by Richie Mehta, ‘Delhi Crime’ was released on Netflix in 2019.
• Book on The Beatles wins 50,000-pound Baillie Gifford Prize - A book on former music group The Beatles won Britain’s leading nonfiction literary award on November 24, 2020. Craig Brown’s “One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time” was named winner of the 50,000-pound ($66,000) Baillie Gifford Prize at a virtual ceremony in London.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Dineshwar Sharma passes away

 

 

Highlights – 

• Dineshwar Sharma, the administrator of Lakshadweep and former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, died at the age of 66 on December 5 in a hospital in Chennai, from complications related to a lung ailment.
• Sharma was slightly built and quiet but he was not averse to speak truth to power, and was always willing to invest time and effort on complex issues. This made him a natural choice for the Modi government which decided to appoint him special representative for Jammu & Kashmir on October 25, 2017. His post was equivalent to the post of Cabinet Secretary.
• Sharma, as J&K interlocutor, pursued dialogue with various stakeholders in J&K till the BJP-PDP coalition collapsed in 2017. It was he who recommended releasing first time stone pelters from jail.
• Sharma was IB chief for a fixed two-year term from December 31, 2014.
• Sharma joined the Intelligence Bureau as Assistant Director in January 1991 in Kashmir when the insurgency was at its peak there.
• During his service, Sharma handled a number of assignments including counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

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

8.1 Mizoram’s Mamit district tops NITI Aayog’s aspirational rankings for October 2020

 

Highlights – 

• Mamit district of Mizoram has topped the rankings of aspirational districts by government think-tank Niti Aayog for October 2020.
• Banka (Bihar) and Dhenkanal (Odisha) have been placed at the second and third positions, respectively.
• Guna (Madhya Pradesh) and Pakur (Jharkhand) stood at fourth and fifth positions.
• The rankings took into account incremental progress made by over 112 aspirational districts across six developmental areas during October.
• Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure were the development areas that were taken into consideration for the rankings.
• Launched in January 2018, The aspirational districts programme aims to transform districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas and have emerged as pockets of under-development.

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

9.1 Japan's capsule with asteroid samples retrieved in Australia 

 

 

Key Features – 

• A Japanese capsule carrying the world's first asteroid subsurface samples shot across the night atmosphere early Dec. 6 before landing in the remote Australian Outback, completing a mission to provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.
• The spacecraft Hayabusa2 released the small capsule on Dec 5 and sent it toward Earth to deliver samples from a distant asteroid.
• At about 10 kilometers (6 miles) aboveground, a parachute was opened to slow its fall and beacon signals were transmitted to indicate its location in the sparsely populated area of Woomera in southern Australia.
• The retrieval of the pan-shaped capsule, about 40 centimeters (15 inches) in diameter, was completed after another two hours.
• The capsule's return came weeks after NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made a successful touch-and-go grab of surface samples from the asteroid Bennu.
• China, meanwhile, announced last week that its lunar lander collected underground samples and sealed them within the spacecraft for return to Earth, as space developing nations compete in their missions.
• Hayabusa2 left the asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometers (180 million miles) away, a year ago.
• After it released the capsule on Saturday, it set off on a new expedition to another distant asteroid.

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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 COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Day was observed on Nov 18.
• 1995 Nobel prize winner for Chemistry Mario Molina died on October 7, 2020 in Mexico City at the age of 77.
• East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is fighting government of China.
• The second meeting of the India- Central Asia Dialogue was held in digital video-conference format in Oct 2020.
• Kerala CM inaugurated the International Institute of Advanced Virology at Thiruvananthapuram 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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