Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 18-01-2021

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 18-01-2021

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Covid-19 – 2.24 lakh vaccinated in 2 days, 447 report adverse reactions – A total of 2,24,301 individuals were administered the COVID-19 vaccine in two days, with more than 17,000 receiving the shot on January 17. With 3,000 vaccination sites and a capacity of 100 persons per site, the Centre had planned to vaccinate 3,00,000 persons nationally on January 16. Consolidated figures on January 17 show that 2,07,000 — or about seven in 10 — were inoculated on the inaugural day. Of all those vaccinated so far, 447 reported reactions such as pain, mild swelling, mild fever or nausea, with only three persons requiring hospitalisation. Only six States — Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur and Tamil Nadu — conducted vaccination sessions on January 17. The Health Ministry has advised the States and the Union Territories to conduct vaccination on only four days a week to minimise disruption to routine health services.
2. World – On Day 1, Biden to reverse Trump orders – President-elect Joe Biden will deliver an appeal to national unity when he is sworn in on January 20 and plans immediate moves to combat the pandemic and undo some of President Donald Trump’s most controversial policies. Mr. Biden intends a series of executive actions after his inauguration, an opening salvo in what is shaping up as a 10-day blitz of steps to reorient the country without waiting for Congress. Mr. Biden will end Mr. Trump’s restriction on immigration to the U.S. from some Muslim-majority countries, move to rejoin the Paris climate accord and mandate mask-wearing on federal property and during interstate travel. Those are among roughly a dozen actions Mr. Biden will take on his first day in the White House.
3. World – Navalny detained in Moscow on arrival – Russia’s prison service said opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport after returning from Germany on January 17. The prison service said he was detained for multiple violations of parole and terms of a suspended prison sentence and would be held in custody until a court makes a decision in his case. Mr. Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent and determined foe, was returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from poisoning by Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, which he blames on the Kremlin. Recently, Russia’s prison service issued a warrant for his arrest, saying he had violated the terms of suspended sentence he received on a 2014 conviction for embezzlement. The prison service has asked a Moscow court to turn Mr. Navalny’s 3 1/2-year suspended sentence into a real one.
4. World – 20 Indian-Americans, 17 in key White House positions – U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has nominated at least 20 Indian-Americans, including 13 women, to key positions in his incoming administration, a record for the small ethnic community that constitutes one per cent of America’s population. As many as 17 of them would be part of the Biden administration in the powerful White House complex. The January 20th inauguration, where Mr. Biden, 78, would be sworn in as the 46th President of the U.S., is already historic as it is for the first time ever that a woman, Kamala Harris, would be sworn as the Vice-President of the country. Ms. Harris, 56, is also the first ever Indian-origin and African-American to be sworn in as the Vice-President of the U.S.
5. Study/Research – 10% of CSIR staff exposed to virus, says survey – A first such pan-India survey tracking nearly 10,000 employees of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the prevalence of COVID-19 found that nearly 10% of the staff were infected. Key neutralising antibodies that protect against the virus waned after infection, but were at “detectable levels” even after six months — a proxy for the period of effectiveness of future vaccination and general immunity. About three-fourths of the respondents could not recall having experienced a single one of the symptoms commonly associated with the disease, and a vegetarian diet and smoking appeared to be “protective” against the infection.
6. Polity & Governance – Centre extends Pawan Hans bidding deadlines by a month – The Finance Ministry has extended the bidding deadlines for the strategic disinvestment of Pawan Hans by a month, citing logistical challenges faced by interested bidders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks another setback for the government’s already dented plans to raise ₹2.1 lakh crore through disinvestment in 2020-21, with just about ₹14,000 crore raised so far through minority stake sales. In December 2020, the government had invited expressions of interest from bidders for its 51% stake in mini-Ratna PSU Pawan Hans, with January 19 as the deadline. The balance 49% stake in the firm is owned by ONGC, and the successful bidder would get an option to buy out the oil major’s stake on a similar price and terms as agreed for the Centre’s stake.
7. Defence – Aero India to showcase indigenous helicopters – The India Pavilion at the Aero India 2021 next month will showcase a range of indigenously developed helicopters, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to hold a conclave of Defence Ministers from the Indian Ocean Littoral (IOR) states. A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), a weaponised Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and a Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) would be on display inside the pavilion. A civilian version of the ALH would be on display outside. All these helicopters have been designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). In addition to the Defence Ministers’ conclave, plans are also on to hold an Air Chiefs’ conclave.
8. Agriculture – Farmers firm on conducting Republic Day tractor parade – Farmer unions protesting against the three contentious farm laws have said they would go ahead with their tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day. Leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front of the unions, said the parade would be “peaceful”, and no disruptions would be caused to the official ceremony. The Supreme Court is slated to hear a petition by the Centre on January 19 to injunct protesters from holding the parade to “disrupt” the Republic Day celebrations.
9. International Relations – U.K. invites PM Modi to G7 summit in June – The UK has invited PM Modi to attend the G7 summit that is scheduled to be held in June. Apart from India, Australia and South Korea are also invited to participate in the proceedings of the summit as “guest countries”. The summit will be held in Cornwall from June 11 to 13. The invitation came days after Mr. Johnson cancelled his visit to India in the last week of January because of a new wave of COVID-19 in Britain. He said he will visit India “ahead” of the G7 summit.
10. Science & Technology – WhatsApp pushes policy rollout to May 15 – Following a severe backlash over the latest update to its privacy policy, Facebook-owned WhatsApp has pushed back the policy rollout by three months to May 15. The company said it will also do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp and “we’ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15”. WhatsApp, for whom India is among the biggest markets with over 400 million users, said, “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8.”

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Cochin Shipyard Ltd	Jr Technical Asst, Storekeeper, Operator, Welder Cum Fitter	10	SSLC, ITI, Diploma (Engg), Any Degree, PG Diploma	02-02-2021	https://cochinshipyard.com/uploads/career/1e8506e4c87d513e150280b8b87b0d50.pdf
2	CEERI	Apprentice	41	10th Class, 10+2	19 & 20-01-2021 – Walk in	https://www.ceeri.res.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Advt_No._01_2021_Advertisement_for_the_Engagement_of_Apprentice_12012021-1.pdf
3	NIHFW	Pharmacist, Receptionist, Stenographer & Other	20	Matric, Higher Secondary, Diploma (Pharmacy)	26-02-2021	http://www.nihfw.org/Doc/Revised%20Draft%20Advt.-Gp.%20C%20&%20MTS%20posts-final.pdf
4	NIHFW	Steno, Librarian, Staff Nurse, Technical Asst & Other	8	Matric, GNM, 10+2, DMLT/ BMLT, Degree/ PG (Library Science), PG	26-02-2021	http://www.nihfw.org/Doc/Detailed%20advertisment%20of%20Group%20B%20posts.pdf
5	SAIL IISCO Steel Plant	Operation Theatre Technician, Dresser & Other	50	10th Class, 10+2, ANM, Diploma, B.Sc, Any Degree	18-01-2021	https://www.sailcareers.com/media/uploads/Required_Qualifications_and_Experience.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 Japan provides 30 billion yen loan to India

 

 

Highlights –

• Japan will provide 30 billion yen (over Rs 2,100 crore) as loan to India to fight the socio-economic impact of COVID-19.
• The 'COVID-19 Crisis Response Support Loan for Social Protection' is the second such assistance from Japan after it sanctioned 50 billion yen (over Rs 3,500 crore) loan as financial support to augment health infrastructure to fight COVID-19 emergency in August 2020.   
• The 50 billion yen support announced on August 31, 2020, was meant as financial assistance to develop hospitals equipped with ICUs and infection prevention and management facilities. Providing support to enhance the telemedicine facilities across Indian villages was also an objective of that loan.
• Soon after the outbreak of COVID-19, Japan had pledged 1 billion yen as grant aid to India to augment oxygen generator facilities for treating critical COVID-19 patients. The country had also partnered with international organisations like UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR to provide financial assistance to the tune of $7.3 million (over Rs 50 crore) to India.

 2.2 UK economy shrinks in November

 

 

 Highlights –

• Britain’s economy shrank in November 2020 as it went into a new lockdown, but the decline was smaller than expected as businesses adjusted to social distancing and schools remained open, making a double-dip recession less likely.   
• The 2.6% monthly decline in Friday’s (January 15) official data was the first since April but less than half the average contraction forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. The scale was also far smaller than April’s 18.8% collapse during Britain’s first lockdown.
• The world’s sixth-biggest economy shrank more than its peers in the first half of 2020 and is now 8.5% smaller than it was in February 2020, before the start of the pandemic. 
• A third, stricter lockdown that began this month is likely to cause Britain’s economy to contract in the first quarter of 2021, when many businesses are facing post-Brexit barriers to trade with the European Union.
• Several economists warned that Britain remained at risk of a renewed recession, with the economy likely to shrink in both the final quarter of 2020 and the first three months of 2021.
• But others thought a contraction might be avoided in the fourth quarter because November’s restrictions were lifted in December 2020.
• Friday’s (January 15) data showed Britain’s economy in November was 8.9% smaller than a year earlier, compared with 6.8% smaller in October. In April, when many businesses closed temporarily, output was a record 25% below its year-ago level.
• November’s downturn was led by services, where output fell 3.4% from October as pubs, restaurants, non-essential shops and many other consumer services had to shut. Manufacturing grew by 0.7% and construction by 1.9%. 

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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 India’s NSA meets Afghan leadership in Kabul to support peace process

 

 

Highlights – 

• Recently, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was in Kabul, in the first high-level visit from Delhi to Afghanistan amid the peace process. During his 2-day visit, he met his counterpart Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib and called on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
• During NSA's meet with President Ghani, counter-terror and building regional consensus for supporting peace in Afghanistan were the key topics.
• The year 2019 witnessed 3 high-level visits from Afghanistan.
• India and Afghanistan have had a close engagement with New Delhi being the biggest financial support of the country in the region.
• Other than mega infrastructure projects like the India Afghanistan friendship dam, and the Afghan Parliament, India has been helping the capacity building especially by providing scholarships to many Afghan students.
• During the COVID crisis, India sent 75,000 tonnes of wheat and 20 tonnes of life-saving medicines and other equipment to Afghanistan.

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

5.1 Five years of PMFBY

 

Highlights –

• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said 29 crore farmers have so far insured their crops under the government’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and urged other growers — who have not yet got one — to enroll soon.
• On the occasion of five years of implementation of PMFBY, the minister pointed out that crop insurance is the only “suraksha kavach (security shield)” for farmers from any crop losses arising due to natural disasters.
• The government has disbursed claims worth Rs 90,000 crore in the last five years.
• PMFBY was launched on January 13, 2016 with an aim to provide a comprehensive risk solution at the lowest uniform premium across the country for farmers.
• For speedy disbursal of claims and crop assessment, the centre is using satellite and is working closely with the state governments.
• A crop insurance mobile app, where farmers can get all information related to the scheme, is also made available.
• Under the scheme, the premium cost over and above the farmer share is equally subsidized by the Centre and States.
• The average sum insured per hectare has increased from Rs 15,100 during the pre-PMFBY Schemes to Rs 40,700 under the PMFBY.
• As per reports, Aadhar seeding has helped in speedy claim settlement directly into the farmer accounts. Even during COVID lockdown period, nearly 70 lakh farmers benefitted and claims worth Rs 8,741.30 crores were transferred to beneficiaries.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Padma Shri D Prakash Rao passes away

 

Highlights –

• Social worker Padma Shri D Prakash Rao passed away at the age of 63 on January 13 in Cuttack of Odisha. He reportedly died due to brain stroke.
• D Prakash Rao was honoured with Padma Shri in 2019 for his contribution towards boosting the value of education among slum kids in Cuttack.
• He had started social work from his tea stall. Rao started the school ‘Asha O Ashwasana’ in Buxi Bazaar area in 2000 to provide free education to slums kids when he saw kids in his neighbourhood taking to petty crimes.
• He was running the school for slum dwellers’ children with the money that he was earning from selling tea in his tea stall.
• Apart from his school, Rao was also a well-known blood donor. He had donated blood for more than 200 times.

6.2 Earthquake in Indonesia

 

 

Key points –

• A powerful earthquake has rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing at least 42 people, with more feared dead as rescuers search for survivors.
• The 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday (January 15) morning, just hours after an earlier, smaller tremor.
• Indonesia has a history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, with more than 2,000 killed in a 2018 Sulawesi quake.
• No tsunami warning was issued but thousands are reported to have left their homes, fleeing to safety.
• Authorities have warned that strong aftershocks could follow the two main quakes and that they could still trigger a tsunami.
• Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the so-called Ring of Fire - a line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions on the Pacific rim.
• In 2004, a tsunami triggered by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra killed 226,000 people across the Indian Ocean, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.
• The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 killed 170,000 people on the Indonesian island of Sumatra after a quake of magnitude 9.1.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Not Available Today

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

8.1 NIC and CBSE to launch CollabCAD Software

 

Highlights – 

• National Informatics Centre (NIC), MeitY along with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Ministry of Education along and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has jointly launched the CollabCAD Software and released a comprehensive e-book on CollabCAD 3D modeling.
• NIC and CBSE also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for ‘CollabCAD Software Support and Training for Students and Faculty in Engineering Graphics Curriculum for Class X and XII across CBSE affiliated Schools’ for 10 years.
• CollabCAD is the first indigenous tool created by NIC in partnership with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• CollabCAD is a collaborative network-enabled and desktop software system, providing a total engineering solution from 2D drafting & detailing to 3D product design for students and faculty of the Engineering Graphics Curriculum.
• This initiative aims to provide a great platform to students across the country to create and modify 3D digital designs with a free flow of creativity and imagination.

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

9.1 Driverless metro car

  

Key points – 

• BEML, a defence public sector equipment manufacturer under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has unveiled ‘Driverless Metro Car’ for Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled ‘Driverless Metro Car’ at a function held at BEML’s Bangalore Complex.
• Mr Singh also virtually launched the Aerospace Assembly Hangar, situated within BEML’s Bangalore Complex, and unveiled the first indigenously manufactured Tatra Cabin by BEML.
• The Defence Minister also inspected the Rail Hangers, the array of BEML equipment on display (Defence & Aerospace, Mining & Construction, and Rail & Metro Divisions), and the newly launched Industrial Design Centre.
• Currently, BEML’s order book position looks healthy at over ₹12,000 crore and with the government’s push for ‘Atmanirbharta’ it is likely to grow further.

Important details –

• Indigenously designed & developed Driverless Metro trains are being manufactured at BEML’s Bangalore Complex.
• The cars will operate on 25 kV AC traction power and equipped with CCTV surveillance and with the provision to carry passenger bi-cycles in the coaches.
• The cars are made up of stainless-steel body with a capacity of carrying 2,280 passengers in six cars Metro train-set.
• BEML bagged a total order of 576 cars for MMRDA’s MRS1 project, the largest order ever, amidst stiff completion in the presence of international players and the supply is scheduled progressively upto January 2024.
• It is to be noted that BEML opened its depot office recently at Charkop Metro Depot, MMRDA, Mumbai for commissioning, testing, and round the clock services for driverless metro cars.

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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 -

• PM Modi inaugurated the 351-km section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in Uttar Pradesh in Dec 2020.
• Operation Meghdoot was launched to establish Indian control over Siachen Glacier in 1984.
• The Directorate General of Training (DGT) of MSDE joined hands with Microsoft and NASSCOM Foundation for upskilling and reskilling of ITI students.
• Under the Post Matric Scholarship for students from Scheduled Castes, the government provides financial assistance to students whose household incomes are less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually.
• The International Anti-Corruption Day was observed on December 9.

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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