Saturday, March 14, 2020

THE HINDU NEWSPAPER IMPORTANT ARTICLES 14.03.2020

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VisionIAS 15:24

NATIONAL

COVID-19 cases hit 82, second patient dies

NATIONAL

Masks, sanitisers now essential commodities

‘Social distancing key to containing COVID-19’

INTERNATIONAL

Virus spreads across globe; toll crosses 5,000

OPINION

People over profit

Dominion over territory

Temples of critical thinking and debate

The ambit and the limits of ‘diaspora diplomacy’

BUSSINESS

Rupee rebounds after RBI intervenes

UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam application withdrawal 2020

Upsc

VisionIAS 17:44

UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam application withdrawal 2020

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The HINDU Notes – 13th March 2020

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VisionIAS 12:20

📰 Bills on bankruptcy code, mineral law get RS nod

•After days of disruption, the Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed two Bills — the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

•The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment Bill, that will help ring-fence successful bidders of insolvent companies from the risk of criminal proceedings for offences committed by previous promoters, was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 6. The Bill replaces an ordinance.

•The IBC, which came into force in 2016, has already been amended thrice. Introducing the Bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Bill was an exact replica of the ordinance and the changes recommended by the Standing Committee of Finance would be incorporated later.

•The Minister said the need for amendment in the IBC arose because of the “changing requirement” and “requirement of fine tuning” the law.

‘This is euthanasia’

•Opening the debate on the Bill, Congress member Jairam Ramesh said only 10% of defaulted loans had been recovered other than seven big ones to be resolved so far. The law was brought to find a way to keep the firms afloat. However, Mr. Ramesh pointed out that out of 970 cases referred to the IBC, 780 had been liquidated, indicating a mortality rate of 80%. “This is euthanasia,” he said.

📰 New environment law cuts time for hearings

Daily Current Affairs, 13th March 2020

vision ias current affairs

VisionIAS 12:00

1) CSIR-National Physical Laboratory develops Bi-Luminescent Security Ink

•A “Bi-Luminescent Security Ink” has been discovered by the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory. The new ink developed by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory glows in two colours: green and red when illuminated by two different excitation sources at 365 nano meters (nm) and 254 nm.

About the “Bi-Luminescent Security Ink”:

•The “Bi-Luminescent Security Ink” which is developed by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory has been found comparable to the standards which are presently followed. This new formulation can be used to determine the legitimacy of identity cards, passports, tamper evident labels, Government documents etc.

2) “Technology Innovation Hub” to be established at IIT Mandi

•The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi will establish a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The Technology Innovation Hub will be established with the help of Rs 7.25 crore sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to IIT Mandi.

•Through Technology Innovation Hub, human-computer interaction (HCI) research programmes will take place in IIT Mandi with focus on design and development of computer technology (interfaces). It will also include the study of interaction between humans (users) and computers. The TIH will also focus on human resource & skill development, entrepreneurship and collaboration with other leading institutions.

•The TIH will also led to the development of tools, hands-on experiments with specialised tool kits, education material, connecting with existing innovation ecosystems and initiatives of the Government of India. The TIH will also facilitate schools, colleges and advanced technical training institutes with an innovation platform to focus in the targeted areas.

3) Amitabh Bachchan becomes brand ambassador of IDFC FIRST Bank

•IDFC FIRST Bank has signed Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador. With this, Amitabh Bachchan has become the first ever brand ambassador of the bank.

•IDFC FIRST Bank provides its customers a range of services including savings account and current accounts, NRI accounts, salary accounts to home and personal loans, small business loans, among others.

4) Digital Solutions Exchange “GOKADDAL” launched in India

•The World’s first Digital Solutions Exchange in the cloud “GOKADDAL” has been launched in India. GOKADDAL is a cloud-based solutions exchange platform which focuses on four A’s i.e. Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Augmentative Technologies. GOKADDAL brings its customers to the right solutions with right tools and right providers and hence helps them to realize their digital transformation vision. The cloud delivery platform is expected to revolutionize the way digital solutions are sourced, delivered and managed.

•The Dubai based emerging technology company “GOKADDAL Technologies” is a part of Merkado group.

5) Surjit Singh Deswal gets additional charge of BSF DG

•Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Haryana cadre Surjit Singh Deswal took over the additional charge of Director General (DG) of Border Security Force (BSF). Deswal, a 1984-batch IPS officer, is currently the Director-General of Indo-Tibet Border Police. He has succeeded Director-General Vivek Johri, who has been appointed Director-General of Madhya Pradesh Police.

6) World Golf Hall of Fame to induct Tiger Woods in Class of 2021

•American golfer Tiger Woods will be elected in the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021. Woods was among 10 finalists named in March as candidates for 2021. His 93 worldwide victories include a record-tying 82 US PGA Tour titles. He won his 15th major title at the Masters last April.

•Woods is a three-time winner of the career Grand Slam and in 2000-01 completed the “Tiger Slam” when he became the first golfer since Bobby Jones to hold all four major championship titles at the same time. The 2021 class was chosen by Hall’s selection committee, a 20-member panel.

Daily Current Affairs, 12th March 2020

vision ias current affairs

VisionIAS 11:51

1) World Kidney Day observed globally on 12th March 2020

•World Kidney Day is observed globally on the second Thursday of March every year. This year World Kidney Day is observed on 12th March 2020. The theme of the 2020 World Kidney day is “Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere–from Prevention to Detection and Equitable Access to Care.” The theme stresses the need to strive for kidney health for everyone everywhere. The theme also highlights to focus on the importance of preventive interventions to avert the onset and progression of kidney disease.

•World Kidney Day is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys. World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

2) GoI decides to have at least one PMBJP Kendra in every block

•Union Government is planning to have at least one Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanAushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendra in each block of India. The above plans are to be executed successfully by the end of year 2020. The above announcement was made by Union Minister of State in the Prime minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh at ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’ celebrations held in Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir.

•Janaushadhi Kendras is the world’s biggest retail pharma chain having around 6,200 outlets in 700 districts of the country. It also provides a good source of self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings. The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanAushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendra were launched by the Indian Government to promote affordable and quality generic medicines among the people.

3) Andhra govt launches “NIGHA” app to ensure ‘clean and healthy’ elections

•The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched ‘NIGHA’ app to ensure ‘clean and healthy’ elections by curbing the use of money and alcohol in the upcoming local body elections.

•The Panchayat Raj Department, in a bid to crackdown on electoral malpractices, has set up the NIGHA app to empower common citizens to lodge complaints seamlessly. Photos and videos of the distribution of money and alcohol and any other activity that violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) can be registered by this app. All the complaints registered by this app will automatically be routed to the Central Control room and the information will be shared with the concerned officials.

4) WHO officially declares COVID-19 as a pandemic

•The World Health Organization has officially declared COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus as a pandemic as it spreads freely in more than 100 countries around the world.

•The virus, which originated in China, has infected more than 113,000 people worldwide and killed more than 4,000, according to the WHO. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a pandemic as an epidemic a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease that has “spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.”

What is a pandemic?

•According to the World Health Organization, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations. Declaring a pandemic has nothing to do with changes to the characteristics of a disease, but is instead associated with concerns over its geographic spread.

5) High court of Bangladesh declares ‘Joy Bangla’ as national slogan

•The High Court of Bangladesh has ordered that ‘Joy Bangla’ will be the national slogan of Bangladesh. The court also directed the authorities to ensure that teachers and students use the slogan after assembly. The two-judge bench of High Court asked the authorities to take necessary steps so that all the people holding constitutional posts and state officials use ‘Joy Bangla’ after their speeches on national days and other appropriate occasions.

•‘Joy Bangla’ was the main slogan during the liberation war of Bangladesh fought against Pakistan in 1971. The first President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also used ‘Joy Bangla’ in his speeches and especially during his historic 7th March speech in 1971 declaring the goal of independence for Bangladesh.

6) LT Gen KJS Dhillon will take over as DG DIA & DCIDS

•Lt Gen KJS Dhillon will take over the post of Director-General Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence). DIA and DCIDS is a department that comes under the Chief of Defence Staff in the newly created Department of Military Affairs.

•DIA and DCIDS are responsible for collating technical as well as human intelligence for the three armed forces. The DIA was created in 2002 on recommendations of a Group of Ministers which looked into lapses leading to the Kargil intrusion in 1999. The DIA is a nodal agency for all defence-related intelligence which collects information technically as well as through satellites to safeguard the interest of the country.

7) Google India starts skill development programme called ‘DigiPivot’

•Google India has launched a skill programme for women called ‘DigiPivot’. The programme designed for women who are looking to return to their corporate careers after a break or simply planning to make mid-career shifts to digital marketing.

•The skilling programme has been developed jointly in partnership with a career portal service: Avtar & and the Indian School of Business (ISB). The aim of the Programme to help the general gender mix within the digital advertising and marketing panorama in India and can offer an opportunity for 200 girls professionals to re-skill themselves.

•The woman who’s at present working and those that are ready to return to the workforce with 4-10 years of expertise in consulting, analytics, branding and sales and support are eligible to attend this programme. The selected woman will undergo a curated 18-week studying program and engagement (each offline & on-line) that aims to empower them with digital advertising and marketing data and instruments in addition to mentorship on strategic management abilities.

8) SBI removes minimum balance charges from all savings bank accounts

•The State Bank of India has waived off the minimum balance charges on all savings bank accounts. SBI has waive charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) for all 44.51 crore savings bank accounts. Earlier, SBI was levying a penalty of Rs 5 to Rs 15 along with taxes on non-maintenance of average monthly balance of Rs 3000, Rs 2000 and Rs 1000 in metro, semi urban and rural areas respectively. Along with the charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance, the public sector bank has also waived of SMS charges.

9) Maharaja Ranjit Singh named greatest world leader in BBC Poll

•Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the 19th-century ruler of the Sikh Empire in India named the “Greatest Leader of All Time” in a poll conducted by ‘BBC World Histories Magazine’. Singh’s name was nominated by Lockwood, who is an assistant professor of history at the University of Alabama, as a modernising and uniting force, whose reign “marked a golden age for Punjab and north-west India”.

•In the second place, with 25 per cent of the vote, is African Independence Fighter Amílcar Cabral who united more than 1 million Guineans to free themselves from Portuguese occupation and in turn propelled many other colonised African countries to rise and fight for independence. Britain’s war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill is at number three with 7 per cent of the vote for his quick decision and sharp political manoeuvring that kept Britain in the war.