Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 29-12-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 29-12-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Defence – Army to restore grave of Naushera ka Sher – After it came to light that the grave of Naushera ka Sher Brigadier Mohammad Usman, the senior-most officer killed in the first India-Pakistan war of 1947-48, was damaged, an Army source said it was looking into the issue and the grave will be restored soon. The grave is located on the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) campus. Brig. Usman was one of only 18 Brigadiers in the Army at the time of Independence and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallant action during the 1947-48 war. As per reports, Brig. Usman’s funeral was done with full state honours and the prayer was led by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
2. Polity & Governance – PM flags off India’s first driverless train – PM Modi has inaugurated the country’s first driverless train on the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line. Mr. Modi said that by 2025 metro services will expand to 25 cities across India from the current 18. The Prime Minister said that the expanding metro network was an indication of “ease of living” among the citizens. “In cities where passenger numbers are less, work is being done on the MetroLite version. Similarly, MetroNeo is being planned in cities where the ridership is less. It would be built at 25% cost of the normal metro. Also, for cities where there are large waterbodies, a system of Water Metro is being worked upon. The National Common Mobility Card was also introduced by Mr. Modi for use on the Airport Express Line.
3. Covid-19 – Four States begin dry run for roll-out of vaccine – The dry run to test preparedness for the nationwide roll-out of a COVID-19 vaccine kicked off in four States — Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab — on December 28. The two-day, end-to-end dry run was carried out in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh; Rajkot and Gandhinagar in Gujarat; Ludhiana and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) in Punjab; and Sonitpur and Nalbari districts of Assam. In Gujarat, the field visits will begin on December 29. The dry run began in Rajkot district and city and Gandhinagar district and city. The actual [potential] vaccine shots will not be administered to people during the dry run. The Punjab government completed the exercise at 12 sites in two districts.
4. Agriculture – Farmers get invite for talks again – The Centre has invited protesting farmer unions to resume negotiations with a ministerial delegation on December 30. Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal sent the invitation to 40 farmers’ organisations in the evening, saying the Centre was committed to a “logical solution”. Farmer groups indicated that they were likely to accept the invitation, though they complained that the letter did not specifically reference their key demand for the repeal of the three agricultural market reform laws. The wider Samyukt Kisan Morcha held an internal consultation to discuss its response to the invitation. Farmers are planning a show of strength on December 30, with a tractor rally from the Singhu border point to the protest sites at Tikri on the Haryana border and Shahjahanpur on the Rajasthan border. Rallies are also expected in Thanjavur, Patna, Hyderabad and Imphal over the next two days.
5. Covid-19 – First time since Covid outbreak, weekly cases fall in all states – For the first time since the Covid-19 virus spread through the country in March, all states and Union Territories (UTs) registered a weekon-week decline in fresh cases last week, indicating that the pandemic was receding across India, at least for now. The only exception was the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, which reported all of nine cases through the week (December 21-27), two more cases than the count in the previous seven days. Meanwhile, 16,143 fresh cases were reported in the country on December 28, the lowest single-day count in more than six months since June 23. Deaths too dipped to 251, the lowest daily toll from the coronavirus since June 2, nearly seven months ago. While weekly cases have been falling for the past seven weeks and in 14 of the last 15 weeks, this was the first time all states registered a decline.
6. World – China defends progress of Pakistan corridor – China has said reports suggesting it was seeking additional guarantees from Pakistan before sanctioning a loan for a key project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship plan under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), were “baseless”. Beijing also defended the progress of the CPEC plan, following reports in the Pakistani press that concerns over Pakistan’s ability to pay back loans as it grapples with the impact of the pandemic had emerged in recent negotiations. As per reports, China had sought additional guarantees before sanctioning a $6 billion loan for Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, which includes upgrading an 1,872-km rail line from Peshawar to Karachi, due to the “weakening financial position of Pakistan” and had “proposed a mix of commercial and concessional loans against Islamabad’s desire to secure the cheapest lending”.
7. World – Trump signs COVID-19 aid, sparks GOP fight – Shelving his objections, President Trump has signed a $2 trillion-plus COVID-19 and annual federal spending package providing relief for millions of Americans, even as Congress returns to confront the White House on remaining priorities in a rare end-of-session showdown. While the President’s demands for larger $2,000 pandemic relief checks seem destined to fail, his push served up a political opportunity for Democrats, who support the larger stipends and are forcing Trump’s Republican allies into a tough spot.
8. World – U.K. warns of ‘bumpy’ transition – Four days after sealing a free trade agreement with the EU, the British government warned businesses to get ready for disruptions and “bumpy moments” when the new rules take effect on December 31. EU Ambassadors, gave their unanimous approval on December 28 to the Brexit trade deal with the U.K.. Germany, which holds the EU presidency, said the decision came during a meeting to assess the Christmas Eve agreement. The approval had been expected ever since all EU leaders warmly welcomed it. It still needs approval from the EU’s legislature. The U.K’s House of Commons is expected to approve it on December 30.
9. Study/Research – Maharashtra tops in POCSO crimes, 50% of victims lured online – Maharashtra is the state where the maximum number of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were registered in the country during 2017-2019. Of this number, 8,503, in nearly 50% of the cases minors were lured online into meeting people who then subjected them to sexual abuse or entered into sexual relationships with the promise of marriage. In law, maintaining a physical relationship with someone below the age of consent is statutory rape. On the list of states, Maharashtra is followed by UP with 6,978 cases, MP (5,348), Karnataka (4,339) and Gujarat (4,228).
10. Economy – RBI deputy governor argues for 4% cap on inflation – A paper published by the RBI and co-authored by its deputy governor and member of the MPC, Michael Patra, has argued for retaining the inflation target at 4%. The paper has pointed out that this is the pre-Covid trend inflation and this concept is central to the monetary policy. The paper’s argument gains significance in light of the fact that inflation has been out of bounds for several months. At the same time, the government has been backing softer rates in order to stimulate demand, support businesses and also to keep its cost of borrowing under check. The paper quotes former Fed chief Ben Bernanke to state that if the inflation target is fixed too much higher than trend inflation, observed inflation would run higher and become more volatile.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	ECGC Ltd	Probationary Officer	59	Any Degree	31-01-2021	https://www.ecgc.in/english/wp-content/themes/pcwebecgc/images/pcECGPagePDF/Adver/PO_Recruitment_2021-22_English.pdf
2	HLL Lifecare Limited	Research Intern	5	M.Sc, M.Pharm (Relevant Disciplines)	31-12-2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/12/Notification-HLL-Lifecare-Limited-Research-Intern-Posts.pdf
3	Cantonment Board, Ahmednagar	Medical Officer, Jr Clerk, Nurse, Asst Teacher & Electric Lineman	11	--	26-02-2021	https://ahmednagar.cantt.gov.in/responsive-menu/cbahome.php
4	National Fertilizers Limited	Accounts Assistant	13	B.Com	22-01-2021	https://www.nationalfertilizers.com/images/pdf/career/noida/ADV-%20ACCOUNTS%20ASSISTANT.pdf
5	Indian Navy	Scientific Asst	14	Degree (Relevant Discipline)	04-01-2021	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/12/Notification-Indian-Navy-Scientific-Asst-Posts.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 Rajasthan to borrow Rs. 2,731 crore more post ease of doing biz reform

 

 

Highlights –

• The Finance Ministry has permitted Rajasthan to borrow an additional Rs 2,731 crore after the state successfully undertook ease of doing business reforms.
• Rajasthan has now joined the five other states namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, which have completed the reform facilitating ease of doing business to be eligible for additional borrowing. These six states have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs 19,459 crore.
• The ease of doing business is an important indicator of the investment friendly business climate in the country.
• The government had in May decided to link grant of additional borrowing permissions to states who undertake the reforms to facilitate ease of doing business.
• The reforms stipulated in this category include completion of first assessment of ‘District Level Business Reform Action Plan’, elimination of the requirements of renewal of registration certificates/approvals/licences obtained by businesses under various Acts.
• In view of the resource requirement to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had in May enhanced the borrowing limit of the states by 2 per cent of their GSDP.
• Half of this special dispensation was linked to the states undertaking citizen centric reforms — implementation of ‘One Nation One Ration Card System’, ease of doing business reform, urban local body/ utility reforms and power sector reforms.
• Till now, 10 states have implemented the ‘One Nation One Ration Card System’, six states have done ease of doing business reforms, and two states have done local body reforms.

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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 Full text of post-Brexit deal 

  

Highlights –

• Britain and the European Union have published the full text of the post-Brexit trade agreement aimed at governing their relationship when the UK definitively leaves the bloc's single market in just five days' time.
• The document, which is more than 1,200 pages long, lays out detail on trade, law enforcement and dispute settlement among other arrangements between Britain and the EU after the UK leaves the single market and customs union on 31 December.
• In the foreward to the copy of the text published by the UK government, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the agreement had been "carefully judged to benefit everyone" and preserve "free trade for millions of people in the United Kingdom and across Europe".
• Senior UK government minister Michael Gove said that agreement would allow Britain to bring "innovation and investment to parts of the country that have endured economic decline". He added there were still "significant changes" to be prepared for by businesses in the short term.
• To ratify the deal, Britain's parliament has been recalled to sit on December 30. A vote in favour is virtually assured after the UK's main opposition Labour Party said its MPs would back it.
• In Brussels, the European Commission has proposed the agreement be applied on a provisional basis until 28 February.
• The European Parliament will be asked for its consent to the deal in 2021 and for the process to be concluded the Council, which brings together the executives of all 27 member states, must adopt the decision.

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• 5. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES (Prelims, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3)

5.1 Ayushman Bharat PMJAY SEHAT scheme

 

 

 

Highlights –   

• PM Modi has launched Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Talking about the scheme, PM Modi said that getting free treatment up to 5 lakh rupees under this scheme would improve the ease of living.
• About 6 lakh families of the state are getting the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme. All 21 lakh families will now get the same benefits after the SEHAT scheme.
• Another benefit of this scheme would be that treatment is not limited to government and private hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir only. Rather, treatment can be availed from thousands of hospitals empanelled under this scheme in the country.

Other details –

• Nearly 229 govt hospitals and 35 private hospitals have been listed under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
• The scheme will provide free-of-cost insurance cover to all residents of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
• As per reports, there is provision for operational extension of the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (PM-JAY) to approximately 15 lakh additional families.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 News Round-up – Arts and Culture

 

• The World Arabic Language Day was observed by UNESCO on December 18, 2020. Arabic is spoken by over 290 million people worldwide.
• John le Carre, the British writer best known for his Cold War espionage novels ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ and ‘The Spy Who Came in From The Cold’, passed away on December 12, 2020 in England at the age of 89. The author, a former British intelligence officer whose real name was David Cornwell, wrote 25 novels and one memoir in a career spanning six decades. He worked for UK’s overseas spy agency MI6. It was as an MI6 officer that he had his first success with ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’ in 1963.
• As a part of the commemoration of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary in 2022, the Union Culture Ministry is planning a museum in Kolkata, an exhibition at the Victoria Memorial and cultural performances in West Bengal. Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said on December 15, 2020 that the programme would start from January 23, 2021, a year ahead of the 125th birth anniversary.

6.2 Ancient street food shop in Pompeii

 

 

Highlights –

• Archaeologists in Pompeii, the city buried in a volcanic eruption in 79 AD, have made the extraordinary find of a frescoed hot food and drinks shop that served up the ancient equivalent of street food to Roman passersby
• Known as a termopolium, Latin for hot drinks counter, the shop was discovered in the archaeological park’s Regio V site, which is not yet open to the public, and unveiled on December 26.
• Traces of nearly 2,000-year-old food were found in some of the deep terra cotta jars containing hot food which the shop keeper lowered into a counter with circular holes.
• The front of the counter was decorated with brightly coloured frescoes, some depicting animals that were part of the ingredients in the food sold, such as a chicken and two ducks hanging upside down.
• Archaeologists also found a decorated bronze drinking bowl known as a patera, ceramic jars used for cooking stews and soups, wine flasks and amphora.
• Pompeii, 14 miles southeast of Naples, was home to about 13,000 people when it was buried under ash, pumice pebbles and dust as it endured the force of an eruption equivalent to many atomic bombs.
• About two-thirds of the 66-hectare ancient town has been uncovered. The ruins were not discovered until the 16th century and organised excavations began about 1750.

Note –

• About two-thirds of the 66-hectare ancient town has been uncovered. The ruins were not discovered until the 16th century and organised excavations began about 1750.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020 

 

Key points –  

• The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has approved the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020.
• Under the provisions of the bill, forced conversion of a woman will be punishable for a term up to 10 years and minimum fine of Rs 50,000.
• Specific provisions are also made in the cases of religious conversion of minors, groups, or of those belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
• Blood relatives, including parents of victims of such religious conversion, can file complaints under the proposed Act.
• Officials have said that due to insufficient provisions of the old Act in the current scenario, the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Bill, 2020 has been approved by the Cabinet for introduction in the Assembly.
• Any marriage solemnized only for the purpose of converting a person will be considered null and void under the provisions of the proposed legislation.
• A provision is also being made that those willing to convert need to apply before the district administration two months in advance.
• The new Act will replace the Freedom of Religion Act 1968 in the state of Madhya Pradesh and its rules which were made in the year 1969.

7.2 RLP convener Beniwal announces split from NDA

 

 

Highlights –

• Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convener and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal on December 26 announced a split from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the Centre's new farm laws.
• On December 25, Beniwal had announced a march to Delhi in support of farmers organisations holding a protest against the contentious laws.
• Farmers from Rajasthan have been protesting in Shahjhanpur near the Rajasthan-Haryana border on the Jaipur-Delhi highway for 14 days.
• Beniwal claimed that his coronavirus test was “fudged to keep him out of the Lok Sabha when the three farm laws were passed”.

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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 -

• People’s Action Party returned to power in Singapore in the general election held in July 2020.
• The Finance Ministry has asked banks and NBFCs to roll out the emergency credit Line guarantee scheme to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• Three gold medals winner at the 1956 Olympic Games in Athletics, Bobby Morrow (age 84) passed away in US in May 2020.
• 32nd Statehood Day of Goa was observed on May 30, 2020.
• The government in May 2020 hiked the FDI limit in the defence manufacturing under automatic route to 74%.

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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