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NOT FOR SALE CONTENTS Focus Articles 5 Budget 2020-2021: An Overview Economic Survey 2019-2020 ● Wealth Creation: The invisible hand supported by the hand of trust ● Entrepreneurship and wealth creation at the grassroots ● Pro-Business versus Pro Crony ● Undermining Markets: When Government Intervention Hurts More Than It Helps ● Creating Jobs and Growth by Specializing to Exports in Network Products Polity & Governance 30 Taking away Disqualification Powers from Speakers Bodo Accord Supreme court orders parties to publish criminal history of Candidates Democracy Index India’s no-fly list A.P. Assembly adopts resolution to abolish Legislative Council India slips two places on the corruption index Difference between private and government Bills Medical device rules, 2020 SC says can’t issue mandamus for job promotions quota: What is mandamus? Plea for judicial probe in custodial death cases Types of question - 1,120 unstarred questions asked in RS session PSA - Shah Faesal booked under Public Safety Act National Security Act Formation of the 22nd Law Commission of India Andhra Pradesh demand for Special Category Status High Court Dismisses petition seeking voting rights to Prisoners Tripura tribal council moves to codify customary laws of tribal clans A case for multiple capitals - Andhra Pradesh SC directed states to establish Gram Nyayalayas Schemes, Bills & Acts 50 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill Supreme Court upholds changes to SC/ST atrocities law Jal Jeevan Mission International Developments 63 Operation Vanilla India & Brazil: Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matter Trump’s West Asia peace plan FATF and Pakistan BIMSTEC Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking USTR takes off India from developing country’s list Bhutan ends free entry for Indian tourists Donald Trump acquitted by Senate United Kingdom’s points-based visa policy Rohingya Issue in the ICJ UAE has been declared ‘reciprocating territory’ by India Economy 63 Apiary on Wheels Railways’ Corporate Train Model World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020 Policy Measures to Double the Income of Farmers and Farm Laborers Coal India Subsidiary NCL sets up ‘SARAS’ to promote innovation & R&D Cooperative banks to come under Reserve Bank regulation 15th Finance Commission Cabinet approves setting up of new Major Port at Vadhavan RBI’s Feb Monetary Policy - Game-Changer for Indian Economy? India’s imported food inflation International IP Index Time to Care Report -OXFAM National Startup Advisory Council Deposit Insurance Cover increased Environment & Disaster Management 74 10 more wetlands in India make way to Ramsar List Phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) New snake eel species discovered in Odisha Yellow rust disease African cheetahs from Namibia to the India New species of urban lizard found in Guwahati Urban heat island in India 13th CoP on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals India’s bird population suffers long term decline Scientists radiotag Indian pangolin Biorock Technology- Coral Reef Restoration Mongolian geese find new home in Davangere Backwater islands of Kerala brought under CRZ regime for the first time Why this Antarctic trip matters Future of Earth, 2020 Report Safeguarding the Cauvery Delta India to pitch for international protection of Asian elephant at UN meet Social Justice & Development 90 Draft policy on rare diseases notified Need of emergency response units for safety of sanitation workers Draft notification on RO systems Women Army officer eligible for permanent commission:SC Justice Amitava Roy Committee recommends several prison reforms How to treat child witness Global Social mobility Report Internal Security & Defence 97 India-Bangladesh JT Exercise SAMPRITI-IX Dhanush Science & Technology 99 CoronaVirus- a Global Health emergency Vyom Mitra Hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), Avangard Arsenic-resistant rice cultivated SuperCam,a robot atop new Mars rover Mapping the ‘Indian’ genome Govt. plans research on ‘indigenous’ cows (SUTRA-PIC) Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill National Deworming Day NASA and ESA launched a Solar Orbiter Mission Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0 Web Portal launched Vaccine derived Polio Virus National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications Locust Invasion Attack Diversity, Art & Culture 109 Nagoba jatara Nagardhan excavations & Vakataka dynasty The five ‘iconic’ archaeological sites mentioned in the Budget The kumbhabhishekam ceremony at the Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple Conservation Plan for Konark temple soon Why govt want to locate Dara Shikoh Tomb, and why it is not easy UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger Analysis of Antiquities and Art Treasures Act : Stolen idols issue KALA KUMBH Kambala PIB Corner 118 Indian National Commission For Cooperation (INCCU) with UNESCO DST launches SATHI Initiative Yojana Summary 120 Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and opportunities in India The Vice President on Science Education and Innovation Innovation in Higher Educational Institutions Education and Technology for the Blind Quality Education for Weaker Sections and Disadvantaged Group Key Initiatives in Education Cybersecurity: Issues and Challenges Mains Questions 137 1 I Articulate Letter from the Editor’s desk “This magazine will never miss out on facts, debates and critical analysis from various experts”. “THE BEST PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW IS DOING YOUR BEST TODAY!” Special Features: Comprehensive coverage of budget and Economic Survey. Background of the Issue to keep you well informed of the legacy. Connecting the Dots: To ensure deeper interlinkage b/w current and static portion. Smart Arts, Charts & Diagrams at your rescue to simplify the matter. Case Studies, Important Supreme Dear Aspirants, Court Judgement, It gives me immense pleasure to present before you this well-crafted magazine for the month of February. Fourth issue of my Current Affairs Magazine with Unacademy. I take this time to thank all of my readers About Me for your astounding support and motivation. I have dedicated myself to the esteemed profession As I have been bringing out the Current Affairs of teaching to fulfil my aspiration of making education magazine for UPSC Civil Services exam aspirants more accessible and affordable. since July 2018, I am sure my past experience as the I have been teaching on Unacademy Plus ever since news analyst for UPSC CSE Exam will surely help the its inception. I was the one to revolutionize The Hindu aspirants. Daily News Analysis (DNA) with it being the most popular of my courses in the online educational arena. Over the past 2 years, by fulfilling my commitments & What’s inside? through perseverance, I have been able to cater to the educational needs of 4.76 lakh followers on Unacademy By keeping UPSC CSE exams as the focal point, itself. our magazine has incorporated all the important happenings in India and around the world for Achievements the month of February. The Magazine has been compartmentalized according to the CSE Syllabus Unacademy: 76 Million live minutes (476K followers) there by reducing the workload of the aspirants. Unacademy Plus Courses: Indian Polity, Indian Starting with our Focus Articles, we have gone a step Economy, Current Affairs further to cater to the needs of the Interview qualified candidates. Two most burning issues the Union Budget 2020 & the Coronavirus issue are dealt with in detail to shape their perception. Must-read-articles that you shouldn’t miss out: Economic Survey 2020 Decriminalization of Politics: SC verdict Draft policy on rare diseases India-Brazil Relations 10 more wetlands in India make way to Ramsar List 2 3 I Articulate Focus Articles | 4 Budget 2020-2021: An Overview An Overview • The govt. estimated a fiscal deficit of 3.8% in RE The Union Budget of 2020-2021 has been structured (Revised Estimate) 2019-20 and 3.5% for BE (budget on the overall theme of “Ease of Living.” The Finance estimate) 2020-21. Minister said that the Union Budget Aims: • The government has utilized ‘escape clause’ • To achieve seamless delivery of services under the FRBM Act which provides it leeway for through Digital governance. relaxation of fiscal deficit roadmap during time • To improve physical quality of life through the of stress. National Infrastructure Pipeline. • Its projected growth for financial year 2021 at 6% to • Risk mitigation through Disaster Resilience. 6.5%. This is down from an earlier projection of 7%. • Social security through Pension and • Nominal GDP growth for 2020-21 is being Insurance penetration. projected at 10%. • Defence budget was hiked by 6% to Rs 3.3 lakh crore. FM Sitharaman lists 3 themes of • 217mn people lifted out of poverty between 2006 Union Budget 2020-21: and 2016. 1. Aspirational India in which all sections of the society seek better standards of living, with access to health, education and better jobs. 2. Economic development for all, indicated in the PM’s exhortation of “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas”. 3. Caring Society that is both humane and compassionate, where Antyodaya is an article of faith. The three broad themes are held together by Corruption free-policy-driven Good Governance & Clean and sound financial sector. Union Budget 2020-21 Highlights Economy • The Budget is aimed at boosting income and purchasing power of people. • After the rollout of GST, the average household now saves 4% in monthly expenses. • FDI in India rose to $284 billion during 2014-19:. Singapore is the largest source of FDI in India with $8 billion investments. • The FM also emphasized on the impact of GST: • Doubling farmers income by 2022: The govt. has • GST has led to efficiency gains in transport and provided benefits for 110 million farmers through logistics sector: GST has resulted in efficiency PM Kisan. gains in the transport and logistics sectors, and inspector raj has vanished. These have benefitted MSMEs. • Consumers have also got an annual benefit of Rs 1 trillion because of GST. • Average household spends 4% less due to reduced GST rates. — 6 million taxpayers have been added. • Central government debt came down to 48.7% in March 2019 from 52.2% in March 2014 • The Current Account Deficit narrowed to 1.5 percent of GDP in the first half of 2019-20 from 2.1% in 2018-19.