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NOT FOR SALE CONTENTS Focus Articles 4 Economic Slowdown USA-Iran Conflict Polity & Governance 14 National Population Register Supreme Court’s verdict on J&K clampdown Minority Educational Rights Dissent - A ‘Symbol of a Vibrant Democracy Karnataka & Maharashtra Boundary Issue Commissionerate System All India Judicial Service Kerala Assembly’s resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 Article 131 Nagpur Resolution Good Governance Index (GGI) SDG India Index and Dashboard 2019 Death Penalty in India Private Property as a Human Right Schemes, Bills & Acts 13 Atal Bhujal Yojana Mgnrega Trends: Fewer Jobs and Wider Demand-Supply Gap National Nutrition Mission of India CACS and e-BCAS:e-governance initiatives International Relations & Developments 37 India and Malaysia: Trade Tensions Issue of Kashmir at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resignation by Russia’s Government Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement: India and France U.S & China Phase One Trade Deal India and Sweden cooperation in Polar Science Henley Passport Index Economy 43 RBI’s Operation Twist Nominal & Real GDP Retail Inflation Current Account Deficit (CAD) Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 National Infrastructure Pipeline Private Participation: Passenger Trains Supervisory Action Framework (SAF) Gold Hallmarking Green clearance for onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration Bank Deposit Cover MDR on Digital Payments Environment, Ecology & Disaster Management 57 India state of forest Report 2019 Australian Bushfires Slump in Solar Power Sector CRZ Rules Eased for ‘Blue Flag’ Certification Monsoon decided history of Indian subcontinent Zero Waste City - Thiruvananthapuram Case Study of Zero-waste cities: Seoul Swachh Survekshan 2020 Survey IMD Report: The Statement on Climate of India in 2019 IMD Revises dates for onset and withdrawal of Monsoon Seismic Hazard Microzonation Green Credit Scheme SC’s Judgement on transfer of Community Resources Open-loop scrubbers Genome of Indian cobra sequenced Miyawaki Method of Afforestation Case Study: Reviving Biodiversity Debris-covered Himalayan Glaciers Migratory Birds at Chilika Lake Increase in Crocodile Population Freshwater Turtles Rehabilitation Centre Flamingo Festival in Pulicat Social Justice & Development 74 Infant Mortality in India NCRB Crime Report, 2018: Summary Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2019 Bru - Reang Refugee Repatriation Agreement National Policy For Rare Diseases 2020 Fast Track Special Courts: Rape and POCSO Act Cases Grading on Gender Equality Basis Higher prevalence of mental disorders in South India Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) Women, Business and the Law 2020 Internal Security & Defence 86 Chief of Defence Staff Revised Guidelines for International Mutual Legal Assistance AFSPA extended in Nagaland BrahMos Missile India successfully test-fires QRSAM system Operation Sankalp Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre Science & Technology 94 Coronavirus Carbon-based nanostructure removes heavy metals from water GSAT-30 Brahma - Brain Template Shape of Sun’s corona Accurately Predicted Herbicide pollution to be Detected by Carbon Dots Goldilocks zone Indian Space Flight Centre H9N2 Virus NASA’s Artemis mission Art, Culture & Diversity 100 Nepal’s Seke Language Periyar Role in Vaikom Satyagraha Swami Vivekananda Classical language(s) in India Tulu Language Gurdwara Nankana Sahib National Mathematics Day - Birth Anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan Moghalmari Monasteries Earliest Sanskrit Inscription Found in South India PIB Corner 108 National Animal Disease Control Programme Purvodaya-Accelerated Development of Eastern Region State Energy Efficiency Index 2019 National Stock Exchange (NSE) Knowledge Hub Saksham Mains Sample Questions 112 1 I Articulate Letter from the Editor’s desk “START” WHERE YOU ARE “USE” WHAT YOU HAVE “DO” WHAT YOU CAN!! Dear Aspirants, About Jatin Verma I am delighted to bring the first issue of my Current Jatin Verma has dedicated himself to the esteemed Affairs Magazine with Unacademy. As I have been profession of teaching to fulfill his aspiration of making bringing out the Current Affairs magazine for UPSC education more accessible, affordable, & alluring. Civil Services exam aspirants since July 2018, I am sure my past experience as the news analyst for UPSC He has been teaching on Unacademy Plus ever since CSE Exam will surely help the aspirants. it’s inception. He was the one to revolutionise The Hindu Daily News Analysis (DNA ) with it being the most The gravity of Current affairs for any competitive popular of his courses in the online educational arena. exam is ever increasing and it has also become an indispensable part of Civil Service Examination from This has earned him a student follwership of more than Prelims, Mains & Interview perspective. 4.76 Lakhs on Unacademy itself. Current Affairs is a dynamic and undefined part of the UPSC Syllabus that puts aspirants in a dilemma thinking how, where, and what to study for IAS preparations. The monthly magazine compilation by me will unriddle the “what, where and how” of current affairs preparation for UPSC. What? Our magazine strictly sticks to the fundamental needs of the exam by eliminating unessential subject matter and focusing on Analysis and important facts that are critical from CSE perspective. Where? Our insightful magazine covers issues from various reliable resources such as PIB, THE HINDU, INDIAN EXPRESS, LIVEMINT, YOJANA, EPW, KURUKSHETRA etc. How? Our detailed analysis on core topics will help students to build a rational and balanced view points. “This magazine will never miss out on facts, debates and critical analysis from various experts”. 2 Focus Articles | 4 Economic Slowdown What the economic data says The growth in the quarter from July to September had Comparing indicators for the first seven months of this slipped to 4.5%. This was the lowest level recorded in financial year with the past, there is an indication that six-and-a-half years, with the 6.1% nominal GDP growth the current slowdown is closer in nature to what was (real growth plus inflation) coming in as the slowest in a faced as far back as 1991 — the year India liberalised. decade. • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had already • A slow and steady dip in growth: Compared to the pared India’s growth estimate for this year to 6.1% previous quarter when growth clocked 5%, the 4.5% in October from its earlier forecast of 7%. It is now rate was not a dramatic downswing, but capped off expected to slash it further with the country in the a slow and steady dip in growth over six quarters in midst of a significant economic slowdown”. a row. • Is this slowdown a result of a cyclical phenomenon • Fixed investment slumped to 1%, private or has it been driven by a structural malaise arising consumption growth halved year on year, from deficiencies in the economic framework? and manufacturing activity contracted by 1%. • Industrial output shrank 3.8% in October, the second straight month of contraction belying expectations that festive demand may revitalise Connecting the Dots production activity. The Assam Accord (1985) • Falling exports: In September, India’s trade deficit • What Is an Economic Slowdown? slipped to a seven-month low of $10.9 billion as exports and imports witnessed the steepest fall in • An economic slowdown occurs when the rate of three years. Merchandise exports shrank 6.57% to economic growth slows in an economy. $26 billion, while imports dropped 13.9% to $36.9 billion. • The rate of economic growth or decline is calculated by determining the percentage change • The 12.2% decline in electricity generation: in GDP from one period to another. Electricity generation is a good barometer of • What is a cyclical slowdown? demand generated by all economic activity, not just industrial production. Less economic activity, less • The economic growth of any country is driven will be electricity generated. by a virtuous cycle of savings, investment and exports. • The GST revenue during September, 2019 has declined by 2.67% in comparison to the revenue • A cyclical slowdown is a period of lean economic during September, 2018. activity that occurs at regular intervals. Such slowdowns last over the short-to-medium • The mess in the credit system: It reflects both the term, and are based on the changes in the business cycle. overhang of bad debts of banks and the erosion of non-banks after the collapse of the aggressive • What is a structural slowdown? lender, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited. Bank credit growth is expected to hit a 58- • A structural slowdown, on the other hand, is a year low in 2019-2020. more deep-rooted phenomenon that occurs due to a one-off shift from an existing paradigm. • High Retail & Food inflation - Retail inflation has hit a 40-month high of 5.54% in November, more than • The changes, which last over a long-term, are double the 2.3% recorded a year ago. Food inflation driven by disruptive technologies, changing demographics, and/or change in consumer hit 10%, led by vegetables (think of onions) and behaviour. pulses. • In such a scenario, a monetary and fiscal stimulus • Falling tax revenues: In 2018-19, tax revenue was won’t be enough to revive the economy. Fixing short by about ₹1.5 lakh crore. But this was not such problems would require the government to reflected in the planning for the 2019-20 Budget. undertake some structural policies. The revenue shortfall