Daily Current Affairs 31 March 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) Companies Fresh Start Scheme, 2020

In pursuance of the Government of India’s efforts to provide relief to law-abiding companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) in the wake of COVID 19, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), has introduced the “Companies Fresh Start Scheme, 2020” and revised the “LLP Settlement Scheme, 2020” which is already in vogue to provide a first of its kind opportunity to both companies and LLPs to make good any filing related defaults, irrespective of the duration of default, and make a fresh start as a fully compliant entity.
The Fresh Start scheme and modified LLP Settlement Scheme incentivize compliance and reduce compliance burden during the unprecedented public health situation caused by COVID-19. The USP of both the schemes is a one-time waiver of additional filing fees for delayed filings by the companies or LLPs with the Registrar of Companies during the currency of the Schemes, i.e. during the period starting from 1st April 2020 and ending on 30th September 2020.
The Schemes, apart from giving longer timelines for corporates to comply with various filing requirements under the Companies Act 2013 and LLP Act, 2008, significantly reduce the related financial burden on them, especially for those with long-standing defaults, thereby allowing them to make a “fresh start”. Both the Schemes also contain a provision for giving immunity from penal proceedings, including against imposition of penalties for late submissions and also provide additional time for filing appeals before the concerned Regional Directors against the imposition of penalties, if already imposed.
However, the immunity is only against delayed filings in MCA21 and not against any substantive violation of the law.

Source: PIB

2) SciTech Airon

Technology has been developed by an incubatee company of Scitech Park, Pune which offers an effective solution for India’s fight against Covid 19 by reducing the viral load of infected areas within a room significantly within an hour. The technology has been developed under the NIDHI PRAYAS program initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
DST has released Rs 1 crore to manufacture and scale up the product, and 1000 of them will soon be ready for installation in various hospitals in Maharashtra. JCLEAN WEATHER TECHNOLOGIES, a Pune based company, is manufacturing the product.
The negative ion generator titled Scitech Airon, which helps to control the virus, bacteria, and fungal infections in a closed environment, could clean up the air and disinfect areas that are exposed to the infection through Covid 19 positive cases and suspects. Hence it could ensure the wellbeing of the staff, doctors, and nurses who are working round the clock in the quarantine facilities by enhancing their disease resistance power and ability to fight the virus.
Its usefulness in killing disease-causing viruses and bacteria has been scientifically tested by various globally renowned labs in different types of closed environments like houses, hospitals, schools, farms, industries, and so on. One hour of operation of the Ion generator machine reduces viral load within a room by 99.7% depending on room size.
The SciTech Airon ionizer machine generates negatively charged ions at approx hundred million per 8 seconds (10 ions per sec). The negative ions generated by the ionizer form clusters around microparticles such as airborne mold, corona or influenza viruses, mite allergens, bacteria, pollens, dust and so on and render them inactive through a chemical reaction by creating highly reactive OH groups called hydroxyl radicals and H O which are highly reactive and known as atmospheric detergents.
The detergent property generated by the ion generator helps in the breakdown of the outer protein of the allergens, viruses, and bacteria, which helps in controlling airborne diseases. It increases the body's resistance to infections and harmful environmental factors. This resistance could be helpful for the next 20-30 days outside the ion atmosphere. It also decomposes gaseous pollutants like Carbon Monoxide (1000 times more harmful than Carbon dioxide), Nitrogen dioxide, and Volatile Organic Compounds.
The efficacy of the Ion generator has also been observed on different types of pathogens like the Influenza virus, Coxsackie virus, Poliovirus, Human Coronavirus, a range of allergens, bacteria, and fungi. It could also be useful against floating viruses in the air on public transport, train stations, or airports, or especially within a confined space like a plane cabin, house, hospital ward, and so on.

Source: PIB

3) Manipur MLA Shyamkumar disqualified for defection

Manipur Speaker Yumnam Khemchand has disqualified Thounaojam Shyamkumar as a member of the Assembly for defection.

What is the issue?

Shyamkumar had joined the BJP shortly after being voted to power on a Congress ticket during the 2017 Assembly polls.
This was clearly in violation of the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

What is the anti-defection law?

The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985 by the 52nd Amendment Act.

It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
The decision on the question as to disqualification on ground of defection is referred to as the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, and his decision is final.

The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.

Disqualification:

If a member of a house belonging to a political party:

Voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party, or
Votes, or does not vote in the legislature, contrary to the directions of his political party. However, if the member has taken prior permission, or is condoned by the party within 15 days from such voting or abstention, the member shall not be disqualified.
If an independent candidate joins a political party after the election.
If a nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member of the legislature.

Exceptions under the law:

Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances.

The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favor of the merger.
In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.

The decision of the Presiding Officer is subject to judicial review:

The law initially stated that the decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to judicial review. This condition was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992, thereby allowing appeals against the Presiding Officer’s decision in the High Court and Supreme Court. However, it held that there may not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer gives his order.

Advantages of anti-defection law:

It provides stability to the government by preventing shifts of party allegiance.
Ensures that candidates remain loyal to the party as well as the citizens voting for him.
Promotes party discipline.
Facilitates merger of political parties without attracting the provisions of Anti-defection
Expected to reduce corruption at the political level.
It provides for punitive measures against a member who defects from one party to another.

Various Recommendations to overcome the challenges posed by the law:

Dinesh Goswami Committee on electoral reforms: Disqualification should be limited to following cases: A member voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party A member abstains from voting, or votes contrary to the party whip in a motion of vote of confidence or motion of no-confidence. Political parties could issue whips only when the government was in danger.
Law Commission (170th Report)

Provisions that exempt splits and mergers from disqualification to be deleted. Pre-poll electoral fronts should be treated as political parties under anti-defection Political parties should limit the issuance of whips to instances only when the government is in danger.

Election Commission:

Decisions under the Tenth Schedule should be made by the President/ Governor on the binding advice of the Election Commission.

Source: The Hindu

4) Kerala sought a relaxation of FRBM rules

To help fund the emergency relief package, Kerala proposes to borrow as much as ₹12,500 crores from the market in April itself and therefore the Chief Minister has urged the Centre to provide Kerala with flexibility under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act to ensure that the State’s finances are not adversely impacted in the rest of the financial year starting on April 1.

Background:

Kerala was one of the earliest States to announce an economic package of ₹20,000 crores to mitigate the impact on livelihoods and overall economic activity from the sweeping steps taken to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, including the latest 21-day nationwide lockdown.

How does a relaxation of the FRBM work?

The law does contain what is commonly referred to as an ‘escape clause’.
Under Section 4(2) of the Act, the Centre can exceed the annual fiscal deficit target citing grounds that include national security, war, national calamity, the collapse of agriculture, structural reforms and decline in real output growth of a quarter by at least three percentage points below the average of the previous four quarters.

What is the FRBM Act?

The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM Act), 2003, establishes financial discipline to reduce the fiscal deficit.

What are the objectives of the FRBM Act?

The FRBM Act aims to introduce transparency in India’s fiscal management systems.
The Act’s long-term objective is for India to achieve fiscal stability and to give the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) flexibility to deal with inflation in India.
The Act was enacted to introduce a more equitable distribution of India’s debt over the years.

Key features of the FRBM Act:

The FRBM Act made it mandatory for the government to place the following along with the Union Budget documents in Parliament annually:

Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement.
Macroeconomic Framework Statement.
Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement.

The FRBM Act proposed that revenue deficit, fiscal deficit, tax revenue, and the total outstanding liabilities be projected as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in the medium-term fiscal policy statement.

Amendments:

The Act has been amended several times.
In 2013, the government introduced a change and introduced the concept of effective revenue deficit. This implies that effective revenue deficit would be equal to revenue deficit minus grants to states for the creation of capital assets.
In 2016, a committee under N K Singh was set up to suggest changes to the Act. According to the government, the targets set under the FRBM Act previously were too rigid.
N K Singh Committee’s recommendations were as follows:
Targets: The committee suggested using debt as the primary target for fiscal policy and that the target must be achieved by 2023.
Fiscal Council: The committee proposed to create an autonomous Fiscal Council with a chairperson and two members appointed by the Centre (not employees of the government at the time of appointment).
Deviations: The committee suggested that the grounds for the government to deviate from the FRBM Act targets should be clearly specified
Borrowings: According to the suggestions of the committee, the government must not borrow from the RBI, except when:

The Centre has to meet a temporary shortfall in receipts.
RBI subscribes to government securities to finance any deviations.
RBI purchases government securities from the secondary market.

Source: The Hindu

5) COVID-19 and Medical Solutions

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus SARS-CoV-2 has caused the world’s largest pandemic infecting nearly six lakh people globally.
Considering the grave scenario the discovery of vaccine and the licensed use of a drug has been ruled out as an immediate solution noting that even if the process is fast-tracked, a process would take over 18 months to be ready for use.
Hence, WHO and other health agencies are re-looking the efficacy of known therapies such as convalescent plasma therapy and drugs to treat COVID-19.
The known drugs include a combination of two HIV drugs- lopinavir and ritonavir, anti-malaria medications- chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, and antiviral compound namely, remdesivir.

Efficacy of Known Drugs

Anti-Malaria Medications: Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has suggested the use of hydroxy-chloroquine to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus) for restricted populations.
Also, the small study conducted in France found that it led to a significant reduction in viral load in COVID-19 patients.
However, Hydroxychloroquine is known to have a variety of side-effects, and can in some cases damage the organs like the heart.

HIV Drugs- Lopinavir and Ritonavir

The combination drug, ritonavir/lopinavir was introduced to treat HIV infections.
It experimented in China with COVID-19 patients but there was no significant difference observed among them.
Although the drug is generally safe, it may interact with other drugs usually given to severely ill patients with other diseases.
The drug could cause significant liver damage.

Antiviral Compound-Remdesivir

The drug, remdesivir is developed to treat Ebola and related viruses are being tested to find out whether it can be used on COVID-19 patients.
According to WHO, the drug helps to prevent COVID-19 viral replication.
It has the best potential and can be used in high doses without causing toxicities.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy

Basis of the Therapy:

The convalescent plasma therapy seeks to make use of the antibodies developed in the recovered patient against the coronavirus.
The whole blood or plasma from such people is taken, and the plasma is then injected in critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their fight against the virus.

Period for Infusion:

A study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases stated that a COVID-19 patient usually develops primary immunity against the virus in 10-14 days.
Therefore, if the plasma is injected at an early stage, it can possibly help fight the virus and prevent severe illness.

Infusion into COVID-19 Patients:

The plasma can be infused into two kinds of COVID-19 patients— those with a severe illness, or individuals at a higher risk of getting the virus.
However, while plasma transfers immunity from one person to another, it is not known if it can save lives in COVID-19 infection.
The treatment could be effective for patients in the age group 40-60 but may be less effective for people aged beyond 60 years.

Previous Application of the Convalescent Plasma Therapy:

The United States used plasma of recovered patients to treat patients of Spanish flu (1918-1920).
Hong Kong used it to treat SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) patients in 2005.
In 2009, the swine flu (H1N1) patients were treated with plasma.

A study in Oxford University’s journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that “convalescent plasma reduced respiratory tract viral load, serum cytokine response, and mortality” in H1N1 patients.

WHO Guidelines (2014):

WHO guidelines in 2014 mandate a donor’s permission before extracting plasma.
Plasma from only recovered patients must be taken, and donation must be done from people not infected with HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, or any infectious disease.
If whole blood is collected, the plasma is separated by sedimentation or centrifugation, then injected in the patient.
If plasma needs to be collected again from the same person, it must be done after 12 weeks of the first donation for males and 16 weeks for females.

Application in India:

Currently, India has facilities for removing 500 ml of plasma from a donor.
For this experimental therapy, the Drug Controller General of India will first have to grant blood bank approval for removal of plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients.
In India, the special care of the risk of infection during transfusion needs to be taken care of.

Relapse in Patients Recovered from COVID-19

Patients who test positive for COVID-19 develop protective antibodies. Theoretically, there can be a relapse even in patients who have antibodies. There are various reasons for such relapsing of COVID-19, some of them are:

Mutation of the Virus:

The probable mutations are one of the major reasons for making an individual vulnerable to reacquire the COVID-19 infection.

Unknown Behaviour of the Virus:

Since the exact behavior of the novel coronavirus is still being studied, immunity against it is not fully understood.
At this stage, it is not fully understood as to how long the antibodies provide protection against the viral infection.
Also, in the absence of any vaccination, it is not known whether the immunity acquired by the persons is permanent.

False RT-PCR test (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) Test:

It has been observed that a “false negative” RTPCR test — the RNA test is conducted to diagnose COVID-19 infection — can lead to a patient testing positive a second time after testing negative in between.

Source: The Hindu

6) The US Cancels Red Flag

Recently, the U.S. Air Force has canceled the Phase-I of Red Flag due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
It is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise meant to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment over the Joint Pacific Alaska range complex.
It is the USA’s flagship multilateral air exercise.

Key Points

The Red Flag Alaska 20-1 was scheduled to be held in Alaska from 30th April to 15th May 2020.

It has been canceled owing to the travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of Defence.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was also to take part in the exercise with its Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets.

The IAF joined Red Flag for the first time in 2008 in Nevada.
It has deployed Su-30MKI, Jaguar strike aircraft, the Il-78 tankers and the C-17 strategic airlift aircraft in the exercise.
However, it had said it would not take part in every edition of the biennial exercise because of the high cost involved.

Source: The Hindu

7) Gond Tribals & Covid-19

While people are struggling for masks and sanitizers in the urban areas, Gond tribal people living in Panna, Madhya Pradesh have devised their own way to make masks to fight coronavirus.
Tribal people are making masks with medicinal leaves and following traditional ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Gond Tribe

Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world.
They mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha.
Gonds are subdivided into four tribes:

Raj Gonds
Madia Gonds
Dhurve Gonds
Khatulwar Gonds

Their staple food is two kinds of millet: Kodo and kutki.

Rice is mostly consumed during festival feasts.

Gonds believe that earth, water, and air are ruled by Gods.
They majorly speak Gondi which is an unwritten language of the Dravidian family.
It has been notified as a Scheduled Tribe.

Source: The Hindu

8) VIX: Measure of Market Volatility

VIX (Volatility Index) is an index used to measure the near term volatility expectations of the markets.

Volatility signifies the rate and magnitude of change in the stock price or index value.

The movement in the VIX index reflects the overall market volatility expectations over the next 30 days.
Given the nature of the index, it is also known as ‘fear gauge’ or ‘fear index’.
The VIX index was first created by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and introduced in 1993 based on the prices of the S&P 500 index.

India VIX

India VIX was launched by National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2010 and is based on the computation methodology of CBOE though amended to align with the Indian markets.
India VIX indicates the Indian market’s volatility from the investor’s perception.
Volatility and the value of India VIX move parallel. i.e a spike in the VIX value means the market is expecting higher volatility shortly and vice versa.
India VIX also has a strong negative correlation with Nifty. i.e every time India VIX falls, Nifty rises and when India VIX rises, Nifty falls.
VIX value is among the important parameters that are taken into account for the pricing of options contracts, which are one of the most popular derivative instruments.

National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE)

NSE is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai.
The NSE was established in 1992 as the first dematerialized electronic exchange in the country.

Source: The Hindu

9) Fake news on pandemic is born

Misinformation linked to supposed cures for COVID-19 and misleading claims has proliferated on social media networks.

Details:

Fake News pandemic:

In light of the pandemic, social media platforms have witnessed:

Misleading claims on supposed cures and posts related to ‘treatments’ that are not proven.
Medicine sales pitches or claims of techniques to prevent exposure and infection that are either not proven and/or filled with a lot of misleading information.
Conspiracy theories about the outbreak.
Instructions for individuals to stock up on supplies and food.

The misinformation about the pandemic has been deadly. False reports have appeared in numerous countries.

Concerns:

There are many dangers posed by inaccurate information on the virus.

It could incite fear or panic among the public:

The issue of panic buying has been reported in many countries. This not only strains the supply system during these critical times but also leads to a shortage of essential items for some sections of the society.
Fake news also leads to lowered public morale in these critical times.

The claims can cause confusion among the public:

Differing claims without underlying scientific evidence can cause a lot of damage as such misinformation creates confusion and prevents communities from following instructions from authorities and being united against the threat. The mass exodus of migrant laborers from cities despite the government’s assurances points towards this confusion.

The claim on supposed cures can cause complacency among the general public.

Increased complacency could lead to lesser adherence to measures like social distancing and good sanitation practices, which are considered very effective against the spread of the disease. The complacency could aid the further spread of the disease.

It increases the potential for individuals to do harmful things in the hope of curing or preventing the illness.

Worryingly some of the supposed cures can have life-endangering consequences. In Iran, a fake remedy of ingesting methanol has reportedly led to 300 deaths and left many sick.

The attribution of the disease to wrong causes can also have economic impacts.

Fake videos linking COVID-19’s spread to the meat and poultry sector have led to low demand for these products and, consequently, large-scale losses.

The sharing of false information has an impact beyond the immediate risk of the virus itself.

Way forward:

There is a need to debunk rumors and myths about the virus.

General public:

The public should be more vigilant and must try to make a distinction between scientific information and misinformation.

Tech companies:

Though there is no link between what people think is true and what people are willing to share on social media platforms, users tend to forward that content which he or she thinks will be liked or shared. Given the fact that social media algorithms are geared to appeal to one’s habits and interests, the emphasis of messages is on likeability and not accuracy. Facebook, Twitter, and other such companies need to alter what people see on screen.
Prompts urging users to consider the accuracy of the content they are spreading on social networks are needed. Reminders about accuracy would be a simple way to improve choices.
Facebook and other social media companies are facing big reputational risks due to the issue of fake news. This should act as an incentive for the tech companies to take stronger action to stop misinformation and the scale at which it can be spread online.

Government:

The government can consider taking action against the circulation of fake news and rumors.

Source: The Hindu

10) Violation of Lockdown

Migrant workers trying to move out of the cities to their villages in the light of the nationwide lockdown.

Details:

Strict enforcement of the lockdown:

The Union Home Ministry has termed the movement of migrant workers to reach their home towns a violation of the lockdown measures on maintaining social distance.
The Centre has asked the States and UTs to strictly enforce the 21-day lockdown by prohibiting the movement of people across cities and highways. Directions have been given to seal the district and State borders and allow only the movement of goods.

Catering to the needs of the migrants:

The migrant workers who have moved out of their work spots must be quarantined in the nearest shelter after proper screening for a minimum period of 14 days as per standard health protocol.
The Union Home Ministry has directed State and Union Territory (UT) governments to provide temporary shelters, food and other essentials to the poor and needy, including migrant laborers. The states are allowed to use the State Disaster Response Fund.
In order to mitigate the economic hardship of migrants, the Home Ministry has directed the State and UT governments to ensure that all employers pay wages without deduction at workplaces, on the due date and for the period their commercial establishments remain closed during the lockdown.
Landlords have been directed not to demand one month’s rent from workers, including migrant workers. If any landlord is forcing laborers and students to vacate their premises, they will be liable for action under the Disaster Management Act.

Essentials exempted:

The transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential, has been allowed.
The entire milk supply and newspaper delivery chains have also been allowed.

Source: The Hindu