TNPSC Current Affairs August 20, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs August 20, 2020 (20/08/2020)

Download as PDF (English)

 

Topic: Political Systems in India, General Administration

National Recruitment Agency

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has decided to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct a common preliminary examination for various recruitments in the central government.

Key Facts:

The NRA will conduct the Common Eligibility Test (CET) for recruitment to non-gazetted posts in government and public sector banks.

Approximately 1.25 lakh government jobs are advertised every year for which 2.5 crore aspirants appear in various examinations.

This test aims to replace multiple examinations conducted by different recruiting agencies for selection to government jobs advertised each year, with a single online test.

The Government also plans to provide outreach and awareness facilities to assist candidates in rural and far flung areas to familiarize them with the online examination system.

A 24×7 helpline will be set up for answering queries, complaints and queries.

The present recruitment agencies– Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)— will remain in place.

Based on the preliminary screening done at the CET score level, final selection for recruitment shall be made through separate specialised Tiers (II, III, etc.) of examination which shall be conducted by the respective recruitment agencies.

Salient Features of CET:

The Common Eligibility Test will be held twice a year.

There will be different CETs for graduate level, 12th Pass level and 10th pass level to facilitate recruitment to vacancies at various levels.

The curriculum for CET would be common.

The CET will be conducted in 12 major Indian languages. This is a major change, as hitherto examinations for recruitment to Central Government jobs were held only in English and Hindi.

Initially, CET will cover recruitments made by three agencies: viz. SSC, RRB and IBPS at Group B and C (non -technical) posts. This will be expanded in a phased manner.

CET will be held in 1,000 centres across India in a bid to remove the currently prevalent urban bias. There will be an examination centre in every district of the country. There will be a special thrust on creating examination infrastructure in the 117 aspirational districts.

CET will be a first level test to shortlist candidates and the score will be valid for three years.

There shall be no restriction on the number of attempts to be taken by a candidate to appear in the CET subject to the upper age limit.

Age relaxation for SC/ST and OBC candidates as per existing rules will apply.

About NRA:

National Recruitment Agency will be a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act,1860.

It will be headed by a Chairman of the rank of the Secretary to the Government of India. It will have representatives of the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance/Department of Financial Services, the SSC, RRB & IBPS.

The Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1517.57 crore for the National Recruitment Agency (NRA).

The expenditure will be undertaken over a period of three years.

It is envisioned that the NRA would be a specialist body bringing the state-of-the-art technology and best practices to the field of Central Government recruitment.

Need:

At present, candidates seeking government jobs have to appear for separate examinations conducted by multiple recruiting agencies for various posts.

Candidates have to pay fees to multiple recruiting agencies and also have to travel long distances for appearing in various exams.

Women candidates especially from rural areas face constraints in appearing in multiple examinations as they have to arrange for transportation and places to stay in places that are far away.

Advantages for Students:

Removes the hassle of appearing in multiple examinations.

Single examination fee would reduce the financial burden that multiple exams imposed.

Since exams will be held in every district, it would substantially save travel and lodging cost for the candidates. Examination in their own district would encourage more and more women candidates also to apply for government jobs.

Applicants are required to register on a single Registration portal.

It will also prevent the issue of clashing examination dates.

Advantages for Institutions:

Removes the hassle of conducting preliminary/screening tests of candidates.

Drastically reduces the time of recruitment cycle.

Brings standardization in examination pattern.

Reduces costs for different recruiting agencies. Rs 600 crore savings expected.

_

Topic: Political System in India

Contempt of Court

The Supreme Court found civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt of court. The lawyer had made a defamatory tweet against the Chief Justice of India.

Key Facts:

Defamation of SC: The judgment said that the tweet scandalized the Supreme Court as an institution.

It held that being the epitome of the Indian judiciary, an attack on the Supreme Court can lead to ordinary litigants and judges of High Courts across the country losing the confidence in the Supreme Court.

Not to vindicate judges: However, the court acknowledged that its contempt powers could be used only to uphold the majesty of law and not to vindicate an individual judge against whom a defamatory remark is made.

Suo Moto cognizance: The court said that the prior consent of the Attorney General (AG) of India is not required to suo motu initiate the inherent contempt powers of the Supreme Court.

The suo motu contempt powers of the top court is drawn from Article 129 of the Constitution.

The Contempt of Court Act of 1971 cannot limit this power of the court. The statute only provides the procedure in which such contempt is to be initiated.

Contempt of Court Act of 1971:

According to the Contempt of Court Act of 1971, contempt of court is of two types:

Civil contempt: It is the wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.

Criminal contempt: It is the publication of any matter or the doing of any other act which scandalizes or lowers the authority of any court, or interferes with the due course of any judicial proceeding, or obstructs the administration of justice in any other manner.

 

Topic: Profile of States

Revamp of Lingaraj Temple: Odisha

The Odisha government has decided to give a facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple, akin to its pre-350-year structural status.

This announcement has come despite the massive financial burden on the State economy in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

It is built in red stone and is a classic example of Kalinga style of architecture.

 

 

Key Facts:

The efforts will be to create a spiritual and ecological ambience in and around the Lingaraj Temple.

The redevelopment plan of the peripheral area of the temple, known as ‘Ekamravan Kshetra’, in Bhubaneswar, has been approved.

Further, the government is planning a barrier-free access between the Temple and Bindusagar lake.

After the Lingaraj Temple, the Bindusagar (a sprawling pond) is the second major attraction for devotees. The pond has a religious relationship with the main temple.

Historical records suggest that about 350 years ago, there was nothing between the Temple and the Lake except some temples.

Bindhyabasini, Bhabani Shankar, Shukasari and Mohini temples will be part of the redevelopment plan.

This is a part of the Lingaraj Temple Heritage Development Project under Ekamra plan.

Through Ekmara plan, it is expected that heritage redevelopment will enhance the attraction of Bhubaneswar as a tourist site and claim for a UNESCO heritage site will be stronger.

_

Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Cabinet Approves Proposal For Leasing Out 3 Airports

Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports of Airports Authority of India (AAI) will be leased out through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to Adani Enterprises Ltd. The lease is for a period of fifty years.

Airport Authority of India (AAI):

The AAI was established under Airports Authority of India Act, 1994. An authority established under an act passed by Parliament of India is a statutory body. An authority established under the constitutional provisions is a constitutional body. Hence, Airport Authority of India is a statutory body.

Background:

It is important to fast track the development of air traffic. This is because, the air traffic in India is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 10%-11% till 2030-31.

Targets fixed by India in Aviation Sector:

India was the ninth largest civil aviation market in the world in 2017. The domestic air traffic contributed to 21.5%.

In 2017, the domestic air traffic in India was 205 million. India intends to become the third largest civil aviation market by 2020. It has set the target of becoming largest civil aviation market by 2030.

Civil Aviation in India:

The passenger traffic in India is expected to increase to 421 million in 2020. The travel and tourism industry in India is to grow at 6.66%.

Travel and Tourism is the major contributor to aviation growth. Therefore, it is essential to develop civil aviation sector to help in GDP growth of the country.