Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 30-01-2021

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 30-01-2021

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Economy – Economic Survey predicts 11% growth next fiscal – India’s economy is firmly in the middle of a V-shaped recovery and will bounce back to record 11% growth in 2021-22 after an estimated 7.7% contraction this year, as per a “conservative” estimate in the Economic Survey for 2020-21, which termed this a “lockdown dividend” from the country’s stringent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Making a strong pitch for the government to loosen its purse strings to spur the economy with a “counter-cyclical fiscal push” till the country returns to its pre-COVID-19 growth path, the Survey defended the conservative fiscal stimulus during the initial phase of the pandemic, stating that pushing down on the accelerator while the brakes are clamped “only wastes fuel”. While absolute growth numbers may be remarkable in 2021-22 due to the low base effect, returning to pre-pandemic growth and output levels would take longer.
2. Education – Class 9, 11 students back in school from Feb. 5 – Class 9 and 11 students in the Capital will return to school from February 5 under strict COVID-19 protocols, Education Minister Manish Sisodia said on January 29. Degree colleges and diploma institutes (polytechnics and Industrial Training Institutes) will also open for project work and practical exams. The Minister said parents had demanded resumption of school for Class 9 and 11 students after the Delhi government gave permission for students, who are to sit for the CBSE examination, to start attending school from January 18. The Directorate of Education also issued exam instructions for Class 9 and 11. For Class 11, practicals, projects and internal assessments will be conducted at the school level from March 1.
3. World – WHO team begins fieldwork in Wuhan to trace virus origins – Experts from the World Health Organization visited a Wuhan hospital on January 29 as the fieldwork began in a closely watched coronavirus origins probe that will take in a food market presumed to be “ground zero” of the pandemic. The WHO investigation has been hobbled by delays, and there are fears over access and the strength of evidence a year after the virus emerged in the central Chinese city. The team met Chinese officials on January 29 and then left their Wuhan hotel in a fleet of cars, trailed by a media pack reflecting the intense global scrutiny on a visit whose aim is to establish how the virus was transferred from animals to humans. The Huanan market is believed to have been the first major cluster of infections, while former U.S. president Trump had pushed an unsubstantiated theory that the virus escaped from a testing facility at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
4. World – Sri Lanka begins vaccine roll-out – Three Army personnel and a senior doctor received the first jabs, marking the launch of the roll-out at six main hospitals in Sri Lanka’s Western Province. A total of 1,50,000 health workers and 120,000 members of the tri-forces, police and security forces, tasked with combating the coronavirus pandemic in the country, will be covered in the first round. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who on January 28 received the vaccines at the Bandaranaike International Airport, thanked the people of India for their “generosity”. The Covishield vaccines, made in India, are the first doses of vaccine to arrive in Sri Lanka. China will donate 3,00,000 vaccine doses by mid-February. Colombo is also in talks with Russia to procure more vaccines.
5. World – U.S. is bombarding civilians in breach of Afghan deal: Taliban – The Taliban has rejected Washington’s accusations that it had not lived up to its promises in Afghanistan, in turn claiming the U.S. was ‘bombarding civilians’. The U.S. signed a landmark deal with the insurgents in 2020, agreeing to withdraw its troops from the country in return for security guarantees after a stalemate on the battlefield. The U.S military has in recent months carried out air strikes against the Taliban fighters in defence of Afghan forces in some provinces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid added on Twitter that the allegations against the group were “unfounded” and that it was “fully committed” to the agreement. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the Biden administration remains committed to the Taliban-U.S. deal and ending the war “in a responsible way”.
6. Economy – Core sector output shrank 1.3% in Dec. – Output from India’s eight core sectors contracted 1.3% in December 2020, with electricity and coal the only two sectors recording positive growth. This is the third month in a row that core sectors’ output declined, with revised estimates for September 2020 suggesting that output had grown by 0.6% in the month compared to provisional estimates of a 0.8% contraction in the month. September’s marginal uptick was preceded by six successive months of contraction in the core sectors. Now, the core sectors’ output is estimated to have shrunk by just 0.9% in October, compared to a 2.5% decline estimated earlier.
7. Covid-19 – Novavax, to be made by SII, shows 89% efficacy in U.K. – American company Novavax, whose COVID-19 vaccine is set to be made in large numbers by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), has reported that its vaccine has proved to have 89% efficacy in preventing the infection in some trial volunteers in the United Kingdom. However, the efficacy dropped to 60% when it was tested in volunteers in South Africa, a likely consequence of a mutant coronavirus variant that is now deep-rooted there. The study enrolled more than 15,000 participants aged between 18 and 84, including 27% over 65. The results are an “interim analysis” as the Phase-3 trials are ongoing.
8. Agriculture – ‘Govt. to abide by SC order on farm laws’ – The Union Government respected the SC and would abide by its decision to stay the implementation of the three farm laws, President Kovind told a joint sitting of Parliament on January 29, even as he strongly defended the new laws and asserted that 10 crore small farmers have benefited from them. Referring to the violence during the tractor parade and the storming of the Red Fort, he said it was “unfortunate” that the national flag was disrespected on the occasion of Republic Day. He said the laws were brought in after extensive consultations.
9. Survey/Report – Bare necessities gap between States has narrowed since 2012, survey shows – Poorer States have reduced the gap with rich States in providing citizens with access to the basics of daily life — housing, water, power, sanitation, cooking gas — according to a new ‘Bare Necessities Index’ (BNI) in the Economic Survey 2020-21. The index, which draws its name from Baloo the Bear’s song in the movie adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, uses existing National Statistical Office survey data to show that between 2012 and 2018, serious gains were made in the area of sanitation although equity in housing access still lagged. States such as Kerala, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat top the index, while eastern Indian States of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Tripura occupy the lowest rungs.
10. Polity & Governance – Mumbai local train services to resume from February 1 – The Maharashtra government has extended the lockdown across the State till February 28. The order said activities already allowed and permitted from time to time shall be continued and earlier orders shall be aligned with the current directive and remain in force till February-end. At the same time, CM Uddhav Thackeray’s office said the general public in Mumbai city and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region would finally be permitted to travel in local trains from February 1. The State government will request all establishments to stagger their work schedule so that employees can benefit from the new schedule. However, in a bid to manage large crowds of commuters, the government has fixed time slots in non-peak hours for the public to travel.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	CSIR-URDIP	Project Associate I & II	6	B.E/ B. Tech (Chemical Engg.), PG	10-02-2021	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2021/01/Notification-CSIR-URDIP-Project-Associate-I-II.pdf
2	C-DAC, Mumbai	Project Engineer, Project Technician	100	Any Degree, B. E/ B.Tech/ MCA, M.Sc, MCS	15-02-2021	https://cdac.in/index.aspx?id=ca_AdvtPEPT_2021
3	NIELIT, Delhi	Programmer, Network Specialist, System Analyst, Developer	125	Degree, PG	15-02-2021	https://www.nielit.gov.in/sites/default/files/PDF/Recruitment/Eligibility%20Criteria-15-10-2021-NDL-AS.pdf
4	IRMRA	Assistant Director, Senior Scientific Officer, Junior Officer	5	B.Tech, PG/ Ph.D	30 Days	https://irmra.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Advt.-for-Scientific-Posts-1-3.pdf
5	ICMR-NARI	Data Entry Operator	8	12th Class, Typing Knowledge	05-02-2021	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2021/01/Notification-NARI-Data-Entry-Operator.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 India Justice Report 2020

 

 

Key points –  

• At 25.3 per cent, Bihar leads the list of 25 states for employing most women in its police force, according to the second annual survey on police, prisons, judiciary and legal aid, India Justice Report, released on January 28.
• Bihar finished ahead of Himachal Pradesh (19.2%) and Tamil Nadu (18.5%). However, although it is the only state to have more than 20 per cent women in the police force, women account for only 6.1 per cent in the officer category.

Highlights –

• Tamil Nadu has the highest percentage of women police officers (24.8%) , followed by Mizoram (20.1%).
• On diversity, Karnataka is the only state to meet its quotas for SC, ST and OBC in both officer cadre and constabulary, Chhattisgarh being the only other state that meets the diversity requirements for constabulary.
• The report analysed expenditure, vacancies, representation of women and members of SC, ST and Other Backward Classes, across 18 large and mid-sized states with a population of over 1 crore and eight smaller states.
• The lack of representation of women as judges in high courts is telling. Sikkim tops the list with 33.3 per cent women – Sikkim High Court has just three judges, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai being its lone woman judge.
• Overall, only 29 per cent judges in HCs across the country are women, but no state except Sikkim has over 20 per cent women judges.
• Of the rest, Andhra Pradesh tops the list with 19 per cent, followed by Punjab and Haryana, where the common HC for the two states has 18.2 per cent women judges.
• Four states — Bihar, Uttarakhand, Tripura and Meghalaya — have no woman judge in its high courts.
• Despite the low figures, women’s representation has marginally increased in police, prisons and the judiciary, the report mentions. Women account for 10 per cent of all police personnel, up from 7 per cent in January 2017; 13 per cent prison staff (10% in December 2016); 29.3% of judges (26.5% in 2017-18).
• Overall, Maharashtra retained the top spot on delivery of justice to people among 18 large and mid-sized states, followed by Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab and Kerala.
• An overwhelming two-thirds of all prisoners are undertrials awaiting a conviction.

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

2.1 Not Available Today

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

3.1 National Maritime Turtle Action plan

 

 

 

Key points –

• Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar has released Marine Mega Fauna Stranding Guidelines and the National Marine Turtle Action Plan in New Delhi.
• The documents contain ways and means to promote inter-sectoral action for conservation. It also suggests improved coordination amongst the government, civil society and all relevant stakeholders on the response to cases of stranding, injury or mortality of marine mammals and also conservation of marine turtles.
• India has rich marine biodiversity along a vast coastline of over seven thousand 500 kilometer. From colorful fish, sharks, turtles and big mammals like whales, dolphins and dugongs to bright corals, marine habitats not only harbor diverse species but also provide resources essential for human wellbeing.
• Millions of people depend on these resources ranging from maritime trade and transport, food, spiritual values and inspiration that draws tourists from around the world.

3.2 Indo-French Year of the Environment

 

 

Key points –  

• The Union environment ministry has launched the Indo-French Year of the Environment along with Barbara Pompili, the French Minister for Ecological Transition.
• The Indo-French Year of the Environment over the period 2021-2022 would be based on five main themes including environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable urban development, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• From the French side, it will be implemented by the Ministry of Ecological Transition along with the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
• From the Indian side, the projects will be coordinated by MoEFCC along with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• A joint screening committee will also be set up to finalise the calendar of the events for the Indo-French Year of the Environment.
• In a bilateral meeting between the French delegation and their Indian counterpart at the Environment Ministry, the two sides discussed issues related to climate change, biodiversity, blue economy, international solar alliance, cooperation in eliminating single-use plastic etc.

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

4.1 India, Japan review implementation of various projects

 

Highlights –

• India and Japan have reviewed progress of various ongoing projects in the Northeastern region in areas of connectivity, hydropower, sustainable development and harnessing of water resources.
• The review was carried out at the fifth joint meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF).
• As per reports, the two sides discussed several new projects being undertaken under India-Japan bilateral cooperation and also exchanged views on cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, agro-industries bamboo value chain development, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
• The AEF provides a platform for India-Japan collaboration in the North Eastern Region under India's 'Act East Policy' and Japan's vision for a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific'.

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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 Cloris Leachman dies at 94

 

 

 

Key points – 

• Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in The Last Picture Show and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died. She was 94.
• A character actor of extraordinary range, Leachman defied typecasting. In her early television career, she appeared as Timmy’s mother on the “Lassie” series.
• She played a frontier prostitute in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a crime spree family member in Crazy Mama, and Blücher in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, in which the very mention of her name drew equine commentary.
• In 1989, Leachman toured in Grandma Moses, a play in which she aged from 45 to 101.
• For three years in the 1990s she appeared in major cities as the captain’s wife in the revival of “Show Boat.”
• In the 1993 movie version of The Beverly Hillbillies, she assumed the Irene Ryan role as Granny Clampett.
• In 2008, Leachman joined the ranks of contestants in Dancing With the Stars, not lasting long in the competition but pleasing the crowds with her sparkly dance costumes, perching herself on judges’ laps and cussing during the live broadcast.
• During the 1950s, Leachman became busy in live TV drama, demonstrating her versatility, including in roles that represented casting standards of that era.
• Despite her photogenic looks, she continued to be cast in character parts. Her most indelible role was Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
• With Young Frankenstein, Leachman became a member of “the Mel Brooks stock company,” also appearing in High Anxiety and History of the World, Part I.
• Her other films included Bogdanovich’s Daisy Miller, and Texasville, repeating her role in The Last Picture Show.
• In 2009, she released her autobiography, Cloris, which made tabloid headlines for her recounting of a “wild” one-night stand with Gene Hackman.
• Cloris Leachman grew up on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, where she was born in 1926. The large family lived in an isolated wooden house with no running water, but the mother had ambitious ideas for her children.
• Cloris took piano lessons at the age of 5; since the family could not afford a piano, she practiced on a cardboard drawing of the keys.
• In 1953, Leachman married George Englund, later a film director and producer, and they had five children: Adam, Bryan, George, Morgan and Dinah. The couple divorced in 1979. Son Bryan Englund was found dead in 1986 at age 30.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 NSA Ajit Doval speaks to Jake Sullivan

 

 

Key point –

• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on January 27 held a telephonic talk with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan during which he underlined that India and the US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and global issues, including combating the scourge of terrorism and ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
• Highlights –
• As per reports, the two NSAs agreed to work closely to further advance India-US relations, which are built on shared values and common strategic and security interests.
• Mr Sullivan stated that the US was looking forward to working together on the bilateral agenda and the common global challenges.
• The two NSAs agreed to work closely to further advance India-US relations, which are built on shared values and common strategic and security interests.
• Earlier, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and exchanged views on pressing regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific.

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

8.1 Pakistan gets GI tag for its Basmati rice 

 

Key points –

• Pakistan has received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its Basmati, paving the way for creating a local registry for the particular strain of rice and making a case in the international market, as the country fights a case in the EU against India's move to get Basmati rice registered as its product.
• A GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess origin-based qualities and reputation in the region.
• Pakistan is fighting a case in the 27-member European Union against India's move to get Basmati rice registered as its product.
• Laws require that before applying for registration of any product in the international market it has to be protected under the geographical indication (GI) laws of that country.
• It is believed that a GI tag would strengthen Pakistan's case in the EU.
• The issue of protecting Basmati rice as a product of Pakistan came to the forefront after India submitted an application to the European Union claiming sole ownership of the commodity in September 2020.
• In its application, India claimed that ''Basmati'' is special long grain aromatic rice grown and produced in a particular geographical region of the subcontinent.
• After highlighting the brief history of Basmati rice, India also claimed that the region is a part of northern India, below the foothills of the Himalayas forming part of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
• The Indian claim to the EU was challenged in December 2020 and the main argument by Pakistan was that Basmati rice was a joint product of India and Pakistan.
• Pakistan exported 500,000-700,000 tonnes of Basmati rice annually to different parts of the world out of which 200,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes is being shipped to EU countries.

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

9.1 News Round-up – World of Science

•  NIC launches CollabCAD software for CBSE students and faculty - The National Informatics Centre (NIC) launched the CollabCAD Software and released a comprehensive e-book on CollabCAD 3D modelling in New Delhi on January 14, 2021. NIC and CBSE 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 a period of 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). It 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 Engineering Graphics Curriculum.
• ISRO to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country - Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced on January 11, 2021 that ISRO will be adopting 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country to promote education in the field of STEM, Space education and space technology related Innovations for school students.

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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 -

• Govt has approved the appointment of Nikolai Snesarev of Belarus as coach of the Indian Athletics team.
• Norway has reported death of 29 people after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech SE vaccine for Covid-19.
• National Informatics Centre (NIC) launched CollabCAD Software for CBSE students and faculty of Engineering Graphic Curriculum.
• Diplomatic Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne called on PM Modi in New Delhi in Jan 2021.
• CCEA approved setting up of Multi Modal Logistics Hub (MMLH) and Multi Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh with an estimated cost of Rs. 3,883.80 crore.

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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