Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 27-01-2021

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 27-01-2021

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Survey/Report – GDP to contract 8% in FY21, FICCI survey shows – India’s GDP is expected to contract by 8% in 2020-21. The annual median growth forecast by the industry body is based on responses from leading economists representing industry, banking and financial services sectors. The median growth forecast for agriculture and allied activities has been pegged at 3.5% for 2020-21. Agriculture sector has exhibited significant resilience in the face of the pandemic. Higher rabi acreage, good monsoons, higher reservoir levels and strong growth in tractor sales indicate continued buoyancy in the sector. However, industry and services sector, which were most severely hit due to the pandemic induced economic fallout, are expected to contract by 10% and 9.2% respectively during 2020-21. The industrial recovery is gaining traction, but the growth is still not broad based. The consumption activity did spur during the festive season as a result of pent-up demand built during the lockdown but sustaining it is important going ahead.
2. Economy – India set to grow 11.5% in 2021: IMF – The IMF on January 26 projected an 11.5% growth rate for India in 2021, making the country the only major economy to register double-digit growth this year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Monetary Fund’s growth projections for India reflected a rebound in the economy, which is estimated to have contracted by 8% in 2020 due to the pandemic. China is next with 8.1% growth in 2021 followed by Spain (5.9%) and France (5.5%). The IMF said that in 2020 China is the only major country which registered a positive growth rate of 2.3%. India’s economy, the IMF said, is projected to grow 6.8% in 2022 and that of China by 5.6%.
3. Economy – ‘Overseas investment by Indian firms dipped to $1.45 bn in Dec.’ – Overseas investment by domestic firms fell by over 42% to $1.45 billion in December 2020, according to Reserve Bank data. In the year earlier period, companies in India had invested $2.51 billion in their foreign firms (joint ventures / wholly owned units). In November 2020, the total outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) was of $1.06 billion, down by 27% from a month earlier. Of the total FDI investment by the Indian companies during the month under review, $775.41 million was in the form of equity infusion and $382.91 million was in the form of loan. Investment of $287.63 million was in the form of issuance of guarantee. Among major investors, ONGC Videsh Ltd. invested a total of $131.85 million in joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries in Myanmar, Russia, Vietnam, Colombia, British Virgin Islands among others.
4. Agriculture – Tractor rally turns violent as farmers enter Capital – Delhi witnessed chaotic scenes on January 26 as groups of protesting farmers broke off from the planned Republic Day tractor parade routes and swarmed into the heart of the national capital, hoisting a union flag and a Sikh religious flag inside Red Fort. Police used tear gas, water cannons and lathicharge to stop the farmers at several locations in the city, including at ITO, where one protester died. The Delhi police said 83 personnel and one civilian were injured in the protests. By evening, the Home Ministry deployed additional paramilitary forces, and suspended mobile Internet services in several parts of the city. The Delhi police said the protesting farmers had breached the agreement with the unions and began their march before the scheduled time.
5. World – Trump impeachment goes to Senate – Democrats of the U.S. House of Representatives delivered charges of “incitement of insurrection” against former President Donald Trump to their Senate colleagues, clearing the way for his trial by the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress. With enthusiasm waning among the GOP Senators, it is far from clear that Senate Democrats will get the required minimum of 17 GOP Senate votes to convict the former President of inciting his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Earlier in January 2021, Mr. Trump became the first President in history to be impeached twice — on January 13 this year and in December 2019, when he was impeached on charges of abuse of power with regard to leveraging the relationship with Ukraine to gain political favours and the obstruction of Congress in the ensuing investigation.
6. World – As pandemic rages on, Italy PM Conte quits – Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on January 26 in the hope of forming a new government after weeks of turmoil in his ruling coalition, leaving Italy rudderless as it battles the deadly coronavirus pandemic. He tendered his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella, the ultimate arbiter of Italian political crises, who invited him to stay on in a caretaker capacity pending discussions on what happens next. The uneasy coalition that has led Italy since September 2019 was fatally weakened earlier this month by the withdrawal of former premier Matteo Renzi’s small but crucial Italia Viva party.
7. World – U.S. announces restoration of relations with Palestinians – U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is restoring relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, a reversal of the Donald Trump administration’s cutoff and a key element of its new support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict agreed to by Israelis and Palestinians. Acting U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills made the announcement of Mr. Biden’s new approach to a high-level Security Council meeting, saying the new U.S. administration believes this “remains the best way to ensure Israel’s future as a democratic and Jewish state and the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a State of their own and to live with dignity and security.”
8. Polity & Governance – Petition in Supreme Court seeks guidelines for electronic media – The Supreme Court has decided to examine a petition seeking the framing of guidelines outlining the broad regulatory paradigm within which the right to free speech of broadcasters and electronic media can be judicially regulated. The plea filed by Pune residents Nilesh Navalakha and Nitin Memane has also sought the setting up of an independent Media Tribunal to hear and expeditiously adjudicate complaints against “media businesses” filed by viewers and citizens. The plea wants the court to consider substantial questions of law, including whether the electronic media enjoys greater freedom than ordinary citizens and whether they could only be subject to self-regulation.
9. Polity & Governance – Gehlot govt. brings M-sand policy for construction works – The Rajasthan government has brought the much-awaited policy on manufactured sand (M-sand), giving industry status to the units producing it for construction work and reducing the dependence on bajri (riverbed sand). The SC had banned illegal mining on riverbeds in 2017. The policy will enable the investors to set up M-sand units by utilising the incentives offered by the State government. It will also help in environmental protection and generate faith among the public in the efficacy of M-sand for construction works.
10. Polity & Governance – School of Public Health launched in Rajasthan – A new School of Public Health (SPH) has been launched to make policy intervention for building public health capacity and skills and bridge gaps between education and practices in Rajasthan. The school is expected to play an important role in healthcare management in the post-COVID-19 scenario. Named after Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) chairperson S.D. Gupta, the school will provide technical support to health systems and render help to the State government in harnessing new technologies.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	UPSC	Asst Public Prosecutor, Data Processing Asst	249	Degree, PG	11-02-2021	https://www.upsc.gov.in/
2	WAPCOS Limited	Engineer, Engineer Trainee, Sr Engineer	11	B.E/ B.Tech (Civil Engg)	05-02-2021	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2021/01/Notification-WAPCOS-Limited-Engineer-Engineer-Trainee-Sr-Engineer-Posts.pdf
3	Army Recruiting Office, Gopalpur	Soldier	--	8th Class, 10th Class, 10+2	09-03-2021	https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/ARMR_RECRUITMENT_RALLY_NOTIFICATION_2021_GOPALPUR_.pdf
4	Army Recruiting Office, Bhopal	Sepoy (D Pharma)	--	10+2/ Intermediate, D Pharma	05-03-2021	https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/BHOPAL_Rally_Notfn-_Sep_D_Pharma.pdf
5	DRDO-DIPAS	Junior Research Fellow & Research Associate	13	PG, Ph.D (Human Physiology)	11-02-2021	https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/career-vacancy-documents/dipas_advertisement.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 SC asks States/UTs to reopen anganwadis

 

• The Supreme Court on Jan 13, 2021 ordered the States and Union Territories that had not opened anganwadi centres due to the pandemic to decide on opening those located outside containment zones on or before January 31.
• The centres were closed during the lockdown.
• While some States have since reopened them, others have not, despite the lifting of the lockdown.
• The judgment came on a petition filed by an activist calling for their immediate reopening.
• “It is the statutory obligation of the Centre and the States to provide for nutritional support to the pregnant women and lactating mothers, nutritional support to children,” the court observed.

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• 2. ECONOMY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper

2.1 SC stays implementation of three new farm laws

• The SC in Jan 2021 put a stay on the implementation of three new farm laws until further orders.
• “The implementation of the three farm laws 1) Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; (2) Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020; and (3) Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, shall stand stayed until further orders,” it said.
• The bench was hearing a batch of petitions regarding the Constitutional validity of three farm laws passed by Parliament and a plea to disperse the protesting farmers.
• It has also set up a committee of agricultural experts to facilitate talks between the Centre and farmers’ unions to resolve the impasse.
• The four-member panel comprises agriculture economist Ashok Gulati, former Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Pramod Kumar Joshi, National President of Bhartiya Kisan Union & All India Kisan Coordination Committee, Bhupinder Singh Mann, and Shetkari Sanghatana President Anil Ghanwat.
• On January 14, Bhupinder Singh Mann said he is recusing himself from the 4-member committee. Farmer unions and opposition parties had raised doubts over the composition of the panel, insisting that its members have been in favour of the three laws in the past.

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

3.1 Cost of issuing green bonds has generally remained higher – RBI study

 

• Green Bonds - A green bond (fixed income instrument that represents a loan made by an investor to a borrower) is a debt instrument with which capital is being raised to fund ‘green’ projects, which include those relating to renewable energy, clean transportation, sustainable water management etc.
• Progress - Green bonds were launched in 2007 by few development banks such as the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. Subsequently, in 2013, corporates too started participating.
• Control - The SEBI has put in place disclosure norms for issuance and listing of green bonds.
• Advantages of issuing green bonds – It enhance an reputation of issuer. Ability to meet commitments, for signatories to climate agreements.They carry a lower interest rate than the loans offered by the commercial banks. With an increasing focus of foreign investors towards green investments, it could help in reducing the cost of raising capital. These green bonds have been crucial in increasing financing to sunrise sectors like renewable energy, thus contributing to India’s sustainable growth.

Recent Study of RBI -

• Green bonds constituted only 0.7% of all the bonds issued in India since 2018 but bank lending to the non-conventional energy (renewable energy) constituted about 7.9% of outstanding bank credit to the power sector, as of March 2020.
• Most of the green bonds in India are issued by the public sector units or corporates with better financial health.
• High Coupon Rate and Borrowing Cost are the major challenges. The average coupon rate for green bonds issued since 2015 with maturities between 5 to 10 years have generally remained higher than the corporate government bonds with similar tenure. It has been the most important challenge due to the asymmetric information (information failure - when one party to an economic transaction possesses greater material knowledge than the other party). High coupon rate is one of the reasons for high borrowing cost.
• Report suggests to develop a better information management system in India that may help in reducing maturity mismatches, borrowing costs and lead to efficient resource allocation in this segment.
• There have been serious debates about whether the projects targeted by green bond issuers are green enough because the proceeds of green bonds are being used to fund projects that harm the environment.
• Lack of credit rating or rating guidelines for green projects and bonds is among one of the challenges.
• Green bonds in India have a shorter tenor period of about 10 years whereas a typical loan would be for a minimum 13 years. Further Green Projects require more time to bring returns.

The road ahead -

• To harmonise international and domestic guidelines and standards to develop a robust green bond market and green investments. Strategic public sector investment could help in attracting private investment and inspire investor confidence in the green bond market. Proper capacity building efforts for issuers in emerging markets to spread knowledge on the benefits and related processes.

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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 Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme has recently completed six years

 

 

Key points –

• It was launched on the occasion of National Girl Child Day (24th January) in 2015.
• The National Girl Child Day was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008.
• It is aimed to prevent gender-biased sex-selective elimination, ensure survival and protection of the girl child, ensure education and participation of the girl child and protecting rights of Girl child.
• BBBP is a national campaign and focussed multisectoral action in 100 selected districts low in Child Sex Ratio (CSR), covering all States and UTs.
• This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development.
• Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has improved by 16 points from 918 (2014-15) to 934 (2019-20)
• Out of 640 districts covered under BBBP, 422 districts have shown improvement in SRB from 2014-15 to 2018-2019.
• Percentage of 1st Trimester ANC (AnteNatal Care) Registration has shown an improving trend from 61% in 2014-15 to 71% in 2019-20.
• Institutional Deliveries: Percentage of Institutional Deliveries has shown an improving trend from 87% in 2014-15 to 94% in 2019-20.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls in the schools at secondary level has improved from 77.45 (2014-15) to 81.32 (2018-19) as per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) provisional data.
• Percentage of schools with functional separate toilets for girls has shown improvement from 92.1% in 2014-15 to 95.1% in 2018-19.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 News Round-up – Corporate World

• Snapdeal, 4 Indian shopping complexes figure in US Notorious Markets List - Snapdeal, one of India's largest e-commerce platforms, along with four Indian shopping complexes, two of them in New Delhi alone, have figured in the latest 2020 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy issued by the Office of the US Trade Representative. The four Indian markets that have found mention in the list are Heera Panna in Mumbai, Kidderpore in Kolkata and Palika Bazaar and Tank Road in Delhi.
• 1st indigenously developed Driverless Metro Car unveiled at BEML - BEML, a defence public sector equipment manufacturer under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), on January 15, 2021 unveiled ‘Driverless Metro Car’ for Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the car at BEML’s Bangalore Complex.
• Army signs contract with ideaForge to procure SWITCH drones - The Indian Army has signed a contract with ideaForge to procure “undisclosed quantities” of high-altitude variant of SWITCH unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at a cost of approximately USD 20 million, according to a statement from the Mumbai-based company on January 14, 2021.
• 9 mm pistol ‘Asmi’ jointly developed by DRDO and Army - India’s first indigenous 9 mm Machine Pistol named ‘Asmi’ has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army. Infantry School, Mhow and DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune have designed and developed this weapon.
• HAL to supply 83 LCA-Tejas to IAF - Government has approved procurement of 83 Light Combat Aircraft, LCA, Tejas worth about Rs 48,000 crore from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force.
• Thales, Bharat Dynamics to partner on air defence system - European defence company Thales on January 14, 2021 said it and PSU Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) have signed an agreement to work in partnership on an air defence system with the support of the Indian and British governments. BDL will become a part of the STARStreak missile system’s global supply chain, providing the opportunity for export of Indian manufactured components.
• Air India’s longest non-stop flight operated by an all-woman crew - Air India’s longest non-stop flight, operated by an all-woman cockpit crew, landed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on January 11 after having taken off from San Francisco (US) on January 9. They flew non-stop for 17 hours. It is also the longest flight operated by any Indian airline.
• 75th foundation day of FCI observed on Jan 14 - The 75th foundation day of Food Corporation of India (FCI) was observed on January 14, 2021. FCI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution that was founded on January 14, 1965 with its Initial headquarters at Chennai. Later this was moved to New Delhi.
• WhatsApp delays new privacy policy by 3 months - WhatsApp on January 16, 2021 announced delaying by three months (till May 15) the implementation of a new privacy policy that has faced massive backlash with tens of millions of its users moving from the platform to rivals like Signal and Telegram. The policy change was originally scheduled to come into effect on February 8. On January 12, WhatsApp had clarified that the update would not affect users’ messages to friends or family. The changes only relate to messaging a business using the platform, the messaging service provider said. In an FAQ posted on its website, WhatsApp added that this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional.
• KVIC launches eco-friendly “Khadi Prakritik Paint” - Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways & MSME Nitin Gadkari launched an innovative new paint developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission on January 12, 2021. The eco-friendly, non-toxic paint, called “Khadi Prakritik Paint” is a first-of-its-kind product, with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties.
• Pat Gelsinger appointed new CEO of Intel - Chipmaker Intel Corp said on January 13, 2021 it would replace Chief Executive Officer Bob Swan with VMware Inc CEO Pat Gelsinger in February.
• Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson dies at 87 in US - Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire mogul and power broker who built a casino empire spanning from Las Vegas to China, died at the age of 87 on January 11, 2021. He was the Chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

6.2 News Round-up – Accidents and Natural Disasters

• Malaysia: King declares emergency till August 1 to fight Covid-19 - Malaysia’s king on January 12, 2021 declared a nationwide state of emergency to fight a coronavirus surge. Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah agreed to declare an emergency until August 1 following a request from Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a meeting on January 11, the national palace said in a statement.
• Indonesia: 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Sulawesi island kills 10 - A 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island killed at least 10 people and injured hundreds on January 15, 2021. Straddling the so-called Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, Indonesia, a nation of high tectonic activity, is regularly hit by earthquakes. In 2018, a devastating 6.2-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami struck the city of Palu, in Sulawesi, killing thousands of people.
• 4 UN peacekeepers killed in terror attack in Mali - Four peacekeepers of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) from Cote d’Ivoire were killed in a terrorist attack in Timbuktu region of Mali on January 13, 2021.
• Norway: 29 die after receiving Pfizer-BioNTech SE vaccine for Covid-19 - Norway expressed increasing concern about the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech SE vaccine for Covid-19 on elderly people with serious underlying health conditions after raising an estimate of the number who died after receiving inoculations to 29.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Padma Awards 2021 announced on 72nd Republic Day

 

• A total of 119 Padma awards will be conferred, including 7 padma vibhushan, 10 padma bhushan and 102 padma shri.
• Notable Padma Vibhushan Awardees - Shri Shinzo Abe (Japan), Shri S P Balasubramaniam (Posthumous), Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde (Medicine), Shri Sudarshan Sahoo (Art), etc.
• Notable Padma Bhushan Awardees - Ms. Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, Shri Tarun Gogoi, Ms. Sumitra Mahajan, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, etc.
• Notabe Padma Shri Awardees - Shri Gulfam Ahmed (Art), Ms. P. Anitha (Sports), Shri Rama Swamy Annavarapu (Art), etc.
• Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are announced annually on the Republic Day (26th January).
• The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• The Awards are given in three categories - Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).
• Padma Vibhushan is highest in the hierarchy of Padma Awards followed by Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
• The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service etc.
• The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

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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 -

• Cultural Diversity for Peaceful Future in Armenia was among the organisations who were conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award on January 9, 2021.
• A High-Level Committee, headed by the Prime Minister, has been constituted to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Bharat Biotech is manufacturing Covaxin vaccine for coronavirus.
• Under PM KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi), the central government is providing annually Rs 6,000 in three equal instalments to small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to two hectares..
• Industrial output growth, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), in October 2020 was 3.63%.

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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