INSTA CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2020 WWW.INSIGHTSONINDIA.COM WWW.INSIGHTSACTIVELEARN.COM Table of Contents 4. Maharashtra House resolution on Arnab Goswami and its face-off with judiciary: ................... 19 GENERAL STUDIES – 1 ..................................... 6 5. SC stays Andhra HC order to study ‘constitutional breakdown’ in State: ......................... 19 Topics: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to Topics: Separation of powers between various organs modern times. .............................................................. 6 dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. ......... 20 1. ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project: ................................. 6 1. Consent for Contempt: ..................................... 20 2. We won’t order any step that will hobble Topics: Modern Indian history from about the middle of economy: SC: ............................................................. 21 the eighteenth century until the present- significant 3. Supreme Court raps govt. on rising cost of events, personalities, issues. ........................................ 6 COVID care: ................................................................ 22 1. 1761 Battle of Panipat: ....................................... 6 4. HC orders ‘composite floor test’ in BTC: ........... 22 5. What the law says about a governor’s power to Topics: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and summon, prorogue or dissolve an assembly? ........... 23 important contributors /contributions from 6. Recusal of Judges: ............................................. 23 different parts of the country. ...................................... 8 1. Who was Khudiram Bose? .................................. 8 Topics: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries ....................................... 24 Topics: Post-independence consolidation and 1. What is the ‘bribery for presidential pardon’ reorganization within the country. ............................... 8 scheme unveiled by the US justice department? ...... 24 1. Vijay Diwas 2020: ................................................ 8 Topics: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, Topics: Women and women related issues. .................. 9 functioning, conduct of business, powers & 1. Why women’s rights activists’ criticised privileges and issues arising out of these. ................... 25 Maharashtra’s proposed laws against sexual 1. MLC disqualified for being appointed as a offences? ..................................................................... 9 Minister: .................................................................... 25 2. Plea in SC for uniform divorce, alimony rules: .... 9 2. MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS):.. ................................................................ 26 Topics: Important Geophysical phenomena such as 3. Can states refuse to implement Central laws? . 27 earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., 4. Parliamentary Panel report on Covid-19 geographical features and their location- changes in management: ............................................................ 28 critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of Topics: Structure, organization and functioning of the such changes. ............................................................. 10 Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and 1. Why Cyclone Burevi will not be as strong as Departments of the Government; pressure groups and Cyclone Nivar? ........................................................... 10 formal/informal associations and their role in the 2. How Mount Everest got 3 feet higher, endorsed Polity. ......................................................................... 28 by both Nepal and China? ......................................... 11 1. Lok Adalat creates history by settling 2.61 lakh 3. Why parts of the US may be able to see the cases in Karnataka: .................................................... 28 Northern Lights today? .............................................. 11 2. Five-Month-Old Infant Moves High Court 4. Not all Indian droughts are caused by El Nino: . 12 Seeking Ban On Vehicular Movement Inside Cubbon 5. What is a Solar Eclipse? .................................... 13 Park:……………………………………………………………………….29 6. What makes the Geminids meteor shower unique? ...................................................................... 14 Topics: Salient features of the Representation of 7. What is causing the dip in Delhi’s People’s Act. ............................................................... 30 temperature?... .......................................................... 15 1. Hold polls where NOTA got most votes: petition: 30 GENERAL STUDIES – 2 ................................... 16 2. ‘Convicted legislators can’t be barred for life from polls’: ................................................................. 31 Topics: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, 3. How NRIs could vote by post? .......................... 32 evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions 4. Model code of conduct: .................................... 33 and basic structure; Comparison of the Indian 5. Why won’t Gulf NRIs get postal voting rights for constitutional scheme with that of other countries. ... 16 now? .......................................................................... 34 1. N.K. Singh calls for a fresh look at the Seventh Schedule: ................................................................... 16 Topics: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, 2. What is a review petition? ................................ 16 powers, functions and responsibilities of various 3. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI): ....................... 17 Constitutional Bodies. ................................................ 35 1. Attorney General: ............................................. 35 www.insightsonindia.com 1 InsightsIAS 2. Governor not sending Bills for Presidential 10. AIIMS scientists find lead in milk samples in assent:........................................................................ 36 Eluru: 56 11. Human Development Index: ......................... 56 Topics: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial 12. Human Freedom Index 2020: ....................... 58 bodies. ........................................................................ 36 13. UK’s ‘more infectious’ Covid-19 strain spreads 1. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal faster: 58 (NCLAT): ..................................................................... 36 14. Shigella infection: ......................................... 59 2. Delimitation should be based on 2031 Census: 37 15. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT: ................ 59 16. Why is weather dept asking people in north Topics: Government policies and interventions for India not to drink alcohol during the cold wave? ...... 60 development in various sectors and issues arising out 17. Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate of their design and implementation............................ 38 vaccine:. ..................................................................... 61 1. Surgery as part of Ayurveda: ............................. 38 18. UK vaccine is a global game changer: ........... 61 2. Ministry seeks proposals for technical textiles body: .......................................................................... 39 Topics: Important aspects of governance, transparency 3. J&K administration seeks review of order on and accountability, e-governance applications, models, Roshni Act: ................................................................. 39 successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, 4. 140 pleas against CAA hang fire: ....................... 40 transparency & accountability and institutional and 5. National Register of Citizens (NRC): .................. 41 other measures. ......................................................... 62 6. The highlights of Karnataka’s new anti-cow 1. IAF moves court against RTI disclosure: ............ 62 slaughter bill: ............................................................. 42 2. Justice Jain committee: ..................................... 63 7. Withdraw plea on water use, Centre tells Telangana: ................................................................. 42 Topics: Role of civil services in a democracy. .............. 64 8. Three capitals for Andhra Pradesh- Issues: ....... 43 1. Mamata refuses to allow 3 IPS officers to go to 9. J&K Internet ban extended: .............................. 44 Centre: ....................................................................... 64 10. MP anti-conversion Bill: ................................ 45 Topics: India and its neighbourhood- relations. .......... 65 Topics: Development processes and the development 1. Bangladesh begins shifting Rohingya: ............... 65 industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups 2. Dhaka moves refugees to Bhashan Char and associations, donors, charities, institutional and island:…. ..................................................................... 66 other stakeholders...................................................... 46 3. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): ....... 66 1. Two-child policy: ............................................... 46 Topics: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and Topics: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the agreements involving India and/or affecting