Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 11-12-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 11-12-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Farmer’s Protests – Govt. asks farmers’ unions to reconsider its proposal - Responding to an appeal from the Centre that the farmers’ unions reconsider its proposal for amendments to the three agriculture sector laws and resume dialogue, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a joint front of the farmers’ unions, maintained that they too had not “shut the doors” for negotiations but they said the government must come up with a “concrete solution” to end the impasse. A day after the unions rejected the government’s proposal, the Agriculture Minister at a joint press conference with the Consumer Affairs Minister said he was “pained” to see that the farmers were not able to make a decision despite all their doubts being addressed by the government. He made an appeal to the farmers to consider the proposal sent by the Centre and resume talks. About the possibility of the withdrawal of the laws, Mr. Tomar maintained that no law was “completely bad”.
2. Polity and Governance – New Parliament building will reflect India’s aspirations: Modi – PM Modi said the new Parliament building, for which the ground-breaking ceremony was held, would channel and reflect the aspirations of 21st century India. The ceremony was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and Union Ministers like Hardeep Puri and Pralhad Joshi, along with members of the Union Cabinet, diplomats, and Members of Parliament. The ceremony included an all-faith prayer and rituals by priests from the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Karnataka. The shankha (conch shell) and navaratnas (nine precious stones) had come from the Peetham.
3. World - US govt & 46 states sue FB: ‘Killed competition illegally’ - The Federal Trade Commission and all but four US states accused Facebook of buying up its rivals to illegally squash competition, and called for the deals to be unwound, escalating regulators’ battle against the biggest tech companies in a way that could remake the social media industry. Federal and state regulators of both parties, who have investigated the company for over 18 months, said in separate lawsuits that Facebook’s purchases, especially Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion two years later, eliminated competition that could have one day challenged the company’s dominance. Since those deals, Instagram and WhatsApp have skyrocketed in popularity, giving Facebook control over three of the world’s most popular social media and messaging apps. The state suit was signed by attorneys general from 46 states and the District of Columbia and Guam. Georgia, South Dakota, Alabama & South Carolina did not join. According to prosecutors Facebook should break off Instagram and WhatsApp, and new restrictions should apply to the company on future deals.
4. Education - CBSE exam dates to be fixed after discussions: Minister - Union Education Minister said the schedule of Class 10 and 12 examinations was yet to be decided by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), but would be announced soon after consulting all stakeholders. During a virtual interaction with students, parents and teachers, the Minister was asked about the dates for exams and their possible postponement. Last week, the CBSE had announced that the board exams in 2021 would be in written mode only and not online. The government would examine the suggestion that the JEE (Main) 2021 be held four times in 2021 — February, March, April and May. The syllabus for the JEE (Main) 2021 would “remain same as the previous year”. He added that the government was examining a proposal for giving students the choice to answer 75 questions out of 90. He said there were 75 questions to be answered in the JEE (Main) 2020.
5. World – Morocco to normalise ties with Israel - Morocco has become the fourth Arab nation this year to recognise Israel, U.S. President Donald Trump announced, as he, in turn, fulfilled a decades-old goal of Morocco by backing its sovereignty in disputed Western Sahara. With barely a month left in his presidency, Mr. Trump, a staunch backer of Israel, tweeted: “Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations - a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!” King Mohammed VI said his country would “resume official contacts .... and diplomatic relations with minimal delay” with Israel. Morocco and Israel had respectively maintained liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat in the 1990s, before closing them in 2000. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anticipated direct flights between the two countries soon.
6. India and its neighbourhood – Bhutan's Parliament Passes Landmark Bill to Decriminalises Homosexuality – A joint sitting of both houses of Bhutan’s parliament approved a bill to legalize gay sex, making the tiny Himalayan kingdom the latest Asian nation to take steps towards easing restrictions on same-sex relationships. Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code had criminalized “unnatural sex”, widely interpreted as homosexuality. 63 of the total 69 members of both houses of parliament had voted in favour of amending the code to scrap the provision. Six members were absent. The changes still need to be approved by the King of Bhutan to become a law. The move by the majority-Buddhist nation of 800,000 people comes after other Asian countries relaxed restrictions on the rights of the LGBT+ people. Neighbouring India removed a centuries-old colonial prohibition on gay sex in 2018, triggering celebration across the country. In Nepal, authorities will count LGBT+ people for the first time in the national census next year. Bhutan is famous for its “gross national happiness” index as an alternative to gross domestic product to indicate real economic progress or development.
7. Economy - Lottery, gambling and betting are taxable under the  GST Act, 2017 - The SC has held that lottery, gambling and betting are taxable under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017. The SC passed the order in a batch of pleas filed by various lottery dealers who argued that the Central government had wrongfully classified lottery as goods. The SC gave judgment that Lottery, betting and gambling are actionable claims and come within the definition of goods under Section 2 (52) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The levy of GST on lotteries does not amount to hostile discrimination. As per Schedule III of CGST Act 2017, actionable claims (a claim to any debt other than a debt secured by mortgage of immovable property or hypothecation or pledge of movable property) other than lottery, betting and gambling are neither treated as supply of goods nor a supply of services.
8. Science and Technology – The Cancer Genome Atlas - The Science and Technology Minister has virtually inaugurated the second TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) 2020 Conference in New Delhi. The Conference brings together scientists and clinicians from across the globe to build Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA). Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) aims to create indigenous, open-source and comprehensive database of molecular profiles of all cancers prevalent in Indian population. Diverse molecular mechanisms including genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to cancer, posing significant challenges to treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the underlying factors patient by patient. The TGCA will molecularly characterize over 20,000 primary cancer and matched normal samples spanning 33 cancer types. Genomics aims to sequence, assemble, and analyse the structure and function of genomes.
9. Education – Global Teacher Prize 2020 - Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary teacher from Maharashtra's Solapur, has won the Global Teacher Prize 2020. Global Teacher Prize is a $ 1 mn  award presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. It was founded by Varkey Foundation, which is a global charitable foundation focused on improving the standards of education. The award is organised in partnership with UNESCO. He not only translated the class textbooks into his pupils' mother tongue, but also embedded them with unique QR codes to give students access to audio poems, video lectures, stories and assignments. He is also passionate about building peace between young people across conflict zones. His ‘Let’s Cross the Borders’ project connects young people from India and Pakistan, Palestine and Israel, Iraq and Iran and the USA and North Korea. Because of Disale’s efforts the state education board and NCERT both have introduced QR codes to textbooks and there are now no reported teenage marriages in the village and 100% attendance of girls at the school.
10. Environment and Ecology – Tiger population increased - The tiger population in the region of Malenad in Karnataka has increased from 70 to 391 individuals in about four and a half decades as per the study conducted by the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) in Bangalore. The concerned people give credit to efforts like Tiger Tourism, Resettlement of people and creation of Tiger corridors for this great achievement. Wildlife experts believe that ‘Tiger tourism” can be enlarged beyond the current Government managed wildlife reserves. This extension includes taking into account the adjacent agricultural areas surrounding wildlife reserves. Kenya and Brazil have showcased the viability of this approach. Shreds of evidence from these countries have shown that local populations can bear the rewards of tourism growth.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	NIDM	Consultant, Jr. Consultant, Web Dev.	16	Degree (Tech./ Eng.), PG	31-12-2020	https://nidm.gov.in/pdf/recruitment/31122020HiringofConsultant.pdf
2	SCTIMST	Apprentice (X-Ray Technology)	5	Dip (Radiological)	18-12-2020	https://www.sctimst.ac.in/Recruitment/resources/APPRENTICE%20IN%20X-RAY%20TECHNOLOGY,%20DATE%20&%20TIME%2018.12.2020%2009.00%20AM.pdf
3	IIT, Guwahati	Assistant, Associate Project Engineer, JRF, Pro Engineer & Tech	25	B.Tech, B.Com, M.Sc, M.Tech, Ph,D	15-12-2020	https://iitg.ac.in/ckfinder/userfiles/files/IITGISxDST00228xTIH101_21_12_2020%20(2).pdf
4	CMERI	Project-JRF, Project Associate-I, II	31	B.E/ B.Tech, M.Sc, M.E/ M.Tech	17-12-2020	https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/vacancy/Detail%20Advertsiement%2004_2020.pdf
5	BHEL	Young Professional	7	PG Degree/ Diploma	31-12-2020	https://careers.bhel.in/lateral2020/static/Advertisement%20for%20Young%20Professional%20-%20CE05-2020.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 RBI cancels Karad Janata Sahakari Bank licence, depositors to get up to Rs. 5L

 

 

Highlights – 

• The RBI has canceled the licence of Karad Janata Sahakari Bank to conduct banking business citing that the bank does not have adequate finance. This means that the bank is prohibited from taking any deposit or making any repayment.
• The central bank also requested the Commissioner for Cooperation Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for it.
• RBI said the process of paying the depositors of the bank will be set in motion. This means, on liquidation, every depositor will receive up to ₹5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation as per usual terms and conditions.
• More than 99% of the depositors of the bank will get full payment of their deposits from DICGC.
• RBI in a notice issued on Tuesday cited that the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. Hence, it would be unable to pay its present depositors in full. Public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.
• The bank was under All Inclusive Directions for the last three years.

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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 - II

 

• Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed said that military operations in the northern Tigray region have been completed, shortly after he announced federal troops had seized full control of the regional capital of Tigray on November 28, 2020.
• Russia in Nov 2020 successfully test-fired a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile in the Arctic. The missile was fired from a frigate in the White Sea and hit a naval target 450 km away in the Barents Sea at a speed of over Mach 8.
• Scotland in Nov 2020 made sanitary products free to all women, becoming the first nation in the world to take such a step against “period poverty.” The measure makes tampons and sanitary pads available at designated public places such as community centres, youth clubs and pharmacies.
• The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority will be renamed to Saudi Central Bank under a new law approved by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Saudi Central Bank will continue to use the acronym "SAMA" due to its historic significance and relevance locally and globally.
• Azerbaijan said in Nov 2020 its forces had entered the Kalbajar district, the second of three to be handed back by Armenia as part of a deal that ended recent fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam (ceded on Nov 20), Kalbajar and Lachin (be handed over by Dec 1).
• Foreigners opening a company in the United Arab Emirates no longer need an Emirati shareholder or agent under changes to UAE company law.
• As many as 74% people in Asia believe that government corruption is one of the biggest problems plaguing their countries, according to a survey of nearly 20,000 respondents in 17 countries. Nearly one in five people (19 per cent) paid a bribe when accessing public services in the last 12 months, found the report released on November 24, 2020 by Transparency International.
• The Asian Development Bank has approved a $300 million policy-based loan to Pakistan to help promote macroeconomic stability in the cash-strapped country. The announcement came a week after Pakistan secured $800 million worth of debt freeze deals from 14 members of the G20.
• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was observed on November 25, 2020 with its theme as: “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”. This year’s International Day will mark the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2020, which is International Human Rights Day.
• The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed on November 29, 2020. On November 29, 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine.
• Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sudan’s last democratically elected prime minister and leader of National Ummah Party, the country’s largest political party, died of COVID-19 on November 26, 2020 in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 84.
• Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an Iranian scientist that Israel alleged led the Islamic Republic’s military nuclear program until its disbanding in the early 2000s, was “assassinated” in Nov 2020 in Absard city of Iran.
• Pat Quinn, a co-founder of the social media ALS ice bucket challenge, which has raised more than $200 million worldwide for Lou Gehrig’s disease research, died on November 22, 2020 at the age of 37 in US. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2013.
• Bruce Carver Boynton, a civil rights pioneer from Alabama who inspired the landmark ‘Freedom Rides’ of 1961, died in Nov 2020 at the age of 83. Boynton was arrested 60 years ago for entering the white part of a racially segregated bus station in Virginia and launching a chain reaction that ultimately helped to bring about the abolition of Jim Crow laws in the South.

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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 - Sports

 

 

Highlights –

• Avinash Sable smashed the national record while winning the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon gold among Indian elite runners, clocking 1:00:30sec to finish ahead of his compatriots by a long distance in New Delhi on November 29, 2020. Ethiopians Amedework Walelegn (00:58:53s) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (01:04:46s) won the men’s and women’s titles respectively. Among Indian women, Parul Chaudhary (01:12:18s) was the best.
• In the first of the three-match One Day International (ODI) series, Australia defeated India by 66 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 26, 2020 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In response to Australia’s total of 374 for six wickets in 50 overs, India finished at 308 for eight wickets in 50 overs. The Indian cricketers joined their Australian counterparts in forming a barefoot circle on the ground before the first ODI to support the anti-movement and acknowledge Aborigine culture. They also wore black armbands in memory of former Australia players Dean Jones and Philip Hughes.
• Greg Barclay, an Auckland-based commercial lawyer and director of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) since 2012, has been elected as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He succeeds India’s Shashank Manohar who stepped down earlier this year.
• In the second ODI of three-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Nov2020, Australia (389-4 in 50 Overs) beat India (338-9 in 50 Overs) by 51 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
• Legendary Argentine footballer, Diego Maradona passed away in Nov 2020 at the age of 60 in Buenos Aires. Argentina won 1986 world cup in Mexico under his captaincy and Maradona was his manager of his country’s national team in 2008-2010. In his international career with Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals.
• Russia’s Daniil Medvedev beat Austria’s Dominic Thiem to win ATP Tour Finals tennis. Medvedev beat Thiem 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the final played in London on November 22, 2020. The doubles title was won by Dutch-Croatian duo Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic who defeated Jurgen Melzer and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2, 3-6, 10-5.
• Ramkumar Ramanathan outplayed 19-year-old Blu Baker of Britain 6-0, 6-2 in the final to win the men’s singles title at the UTR Pro tennis tournament in Naples, USA.
• Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry has restored the government recognition to Archery Association of India as a Nation Sports Federation for promotion and regulation of Archery Sport in the country. Government recognition of AAI was withdrawn eight years back on account of failure to conduct its elections in accordance with the National Sports Development Code of India.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women List

 

 

 

Highlights – 

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is among the Forbes' ranking of 100 most powerful women in the world. FM Sitharaman is ranked 41st, and other Indians in the list include HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel grabbed the No. 1 slot for the 10th consecutive year, with European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde coming in second for the second year in a row.
• According to Forbes, Angela Merkel remains the de facto leader of Europe, leading the region’s largest economy after steering Germany through financial crisis and back to growth.
• US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris made the list for the first time—debuting in the No. 3 spot.
• Roshni Nadar Malhotra has claimed the 55th spot on the Forbes 2020 list of 'The World's 100 Most Powerful Women'. As CEO of HCL Corporation, she is responsible for all strategic decisions for the USD 8.9 billion technology company.
• Mazumdar-Shaw, who is ranked 68 on the list, is India's richest self-made woman and founder of the country's largest biopharmaceutical company by revenue in 1978.
• Forbes said Harris' rapid ascension in US politics has catapulted her onto the list. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pushed to the seventh slot on the list, down from 2019 when she ranked third.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen came in fourth place, while philanthropist Melinda Gates claimed the fifth spot in the 2020 list.

7.2 Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Prevention of Cattle Bill, 2020

 

 

Key points –

• The Karnataka State Legislative Assembly has given the green signal to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 amidst clamour from the opposition.
• The 2020 Bill seeks to bring back the ban on cattle slaughter that was introduced in the State in 2010, albeit with more stringent penalties for contravention.

Definition of "beef", "cattle" and "slaughter" –

• Beef is defined under the Bill as the flesh of any cattle. Cattle is defined as "cow, calf of a cow and bull, bullock and he or she buffalo below the age of thirteen years". Slaughter is defined as "killing by any method whatsoever and includes maiming and infliction of physical injury which in the ordinary course will cause death".
• Prohibition of slaughter and transportation of cattle –
• Section 4 prohibits the slaughter of cattle. Section 5 restricts the transportation of cattle for slaughter within the State. Transport of cattle is allowed for bona fide agricultural and animal husbandry purposes, in the manner prescribed by the Central or State government. Section 6 restricts the inter-state transportation of cattle for slaughter. Under Section 7, sale or purchase of cattle for slaughter is prohibited.

Seizure and forfeiture of cattle, premises etc –

• Police officers not below the rank of Sub-Inspector and the competent authority under the Bill are empowered to inspect and seize any "cattle, premises and materials used or intended to be used for the commission of an offence under the Bill", if they have reason to believe that such offence has been committed.
• Once the records of such seized items are placed before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, he has the power to pass orders confiscating the same. Additionally, he may sell the confiscated properties through a public auction, if he feels it is expedient in public interest to do so.
• As per Section 14, if an accused is convicted, the court shall forfeit the confiscated cattle, vehicle, premises, and materials to the State government.

Penalties –

• Conviction under Section 4 invites imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than seven years and/or fine of not less than Rs. 50,000 for each cattle which can be extended to Rs. 5 lakh. For subsequent offences, the fine is not less than Rs 1 lakh and can be extended to Rs. 10 lakh.
• For contravention of provisions other than Section 4, the prison term is three to five years, and the fine is not less than Rs. 50,000 and can extend to Rs. 5 lakh.
• All offences under the Bill are cognizable.

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

8.1 International Anti-Corruption Day 2020   

Highlights –

• International Anti-Corruption Day also Mlondi Caluza's birthday has been observed annually, on 9 December, since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption.
• In 2020, 'Recover With Integrity' was the theme for International Anti Corruption Day as the world recovers from the pandemic. 'Recover With Integrity' emphasizes that inclusive COVID-19 recovery can only be achieved with integrity.
• The UN General Assembly, on October 31, 2003 adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General to designate the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention's Conference.
• The UNGA also designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day, to make people aware about corruption and how it affects them. The Convention came into force in December 2005.

Key areas to focus in 2020 –

• This year the worldwide campaign against corruption focused on mitigating corruption and enhancing accountability in the public health sector and, emergency and economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sports were also part of the campaign to ensure it remains a force for development and peace.

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

9.1 NavIC as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System

 

  

Highlights –

 

• The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has recognised India’s NavIC as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS).
• This recognition was awarded in the 102nd meeting of Maritime Safety Committee of IMO (MSC-102) held in November 2020.
• NavIC had been represented at the IMO by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), the Ministry of Ports, the Shipping and Waterways with technical support from ISRO.
• In April 2020, NavIC L5 had been incorporated in the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) standard 10403.3 for differential Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications.
• These developments will enable the utilisation of NavIC in the fields of maritime navigation, surveying, geodesy.

Important details –

• The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also called NavIC, is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India.
• It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
• According to ISRO, the IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is provided to all users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users.
• The IRNSS System is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 metres in the primary service area.
• The system that offers services such as terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, navigation aide for hikers and travellers, visual and voice navigation for drivers, was named ‘NavIC’ (Navigation with Indian Constellation) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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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 -

• Yalemzerf Yehualaw won the Women’s race at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in Nov 2020.
• Boris Johnson is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• Indian Army Chief was felicitated with an honorary rank by the President of Nepal in November 2020.
• Rs. 30.8 lakh is the new poll spending limit for candidates contesting Assembly elections announced by the government recently.
• Tourism and rural development was the theme of the World Tourism Day celebrated on Sept 27.

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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