TNPSC Current Affairs April 13, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs April 13, 2020 (13/04/2020)

 

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

April 12: International Day of Human Space Flight

Every year, International Day of Human Space Flight is observed on April 12. The day commemorates the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight in 1961

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in April 2011 to observe International Day of human Space Flight on April 12. It aims to reaffirm the contribution of space in achieving SDGs.

Why April 12?

In 1957, the first human made earth satellite Sputnik I was launched into outer space. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the earth successfully. This opened human endeavor to outer space.

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Topic: Geographical Landmarks, Latest diary of Events

What is earth’s seismic noise?

Scientists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) have reported a change in the Earth’s seismic noise and vibrations amid the coronavirus lockdown.

They have observed a 30-50 per cent fall in levels of ambient seismic noise since schools and businesses were closed in mid-March.

Seismologists around the world have now begun a collaborative effort to study the fall in seismic noise levels.

What is seismic noise?

In geology, seismic noise refers to the relatively persistent vibration of the ground due to a multitude of causes.

It is the unwanted component of signals recorded by a seismometer– the scientific instrument that records ground motions, such as those caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and technology

What is contact tracing?

Global technology giants Apple and Google have announced that they are partnering on developing contact tracing technology to help governments and health authorities tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic.

They are planning to build a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing.

Need for:

Contact tracing is considered essential for bringing epidemics under control, and is expected to help governments in relaxing lockdown orders.

Identifying people at the onset of symptoms and promptly isolating them reduces exposure to other persons.

Via contact tracing, people who have come into contact with a person carrying a disease are alerted and identified.

Additionally, prompt isolation and admission of the symptomatic person to a treatment facility decreases the delay to supportive treatment, which improves the likelihood of survival.

What is Contact tracing?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines contact tracing as the process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent onward transmission.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events, Profile of States

Fly ash

While 20 districts of Madhya Pradesh battle hard against the killer onslaught of the novel Coronavirus, the Singrauli district of the central Indian state has been hit by a tragedy caused by the Reliance Power plant’s fly ash dyke collapse.

Background:

The Reliance Power’s Ultra Mega Power Project’s (UMPP) in Sasan area of Singrauli fly ash dyke collapsed recently. The flood of the toxic ash slurry from the collapsed dyke located in adjoining Harhawa village washed away six persons, including three kids, a woman and two men living in the adjoining villages.

What is Fly Ash?

Popularly known as Flue ash or pulverised fuel ash, it is a coal combustion product.

Composition:Composed of the particulates that are driven out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue gases.

Depending upon the source and composition of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably, but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO), the main mineral compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.

Health and environmental hazards:

Toxic heavy metals present: All the heavy metals found in fly ash nickel, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, etc—are toxic in nature. They are minute, poisonous particles accumulate in the respiratory tract, and cause gradual poisoning.

Radiation: For an equal amount of electricity generated, fly ash contains a hundred times more radiation than nuclear waste secured via dry cask or water storage.

Water pollution: The breaching of ash dykes and consequent ash spills occur frequently in India, polluting a large number of water bodies.

Effects on environment: The destruction of mangroves, drastic reduction in crop yields, and the pollution of groundwater in the Rann of Kutch from the ash sludge of adjoining Coal power plants has been well documented.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

World Homoeopathy Day

Observed on 10th April 2020. It commemorates the 265th birth anniversary of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of Homoeopathy.

The theme of 2020 is “Enhancing the scope of Homoeopathy in Public Health”.

What is Homeopathy? The way to heal by the doctrine of ‘similia similibus curantur’ i.e likes are cured by likes.

The homeopathic medical system is a recognized medical system in India under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. It is also recognized as one of the national systems of medicines.

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Topic: Science and Health, Latest Diary of Events

Wormivet: Herbal Medication developed by NIF to treat worms

The National Innovation foundation India has developed an indigenous herbal medicine called Wormivet. It is an alternative to chemical methods that are currently being used to treat worms.

The Wormivet is used to treat endoparasite worms in livestock. A patent has been filed on the invention. The patent has been given in the name of Grassroots knowledge.

Key facts:

Internal Parasite in worms leads to loss in body weight, anemia, loss in reproductive health. It limits growth and productivity. On the other hand, inappropriate use of chemical dewormers creates resistance.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

COVID-19: What are Red, Orange and Green Zones?

PM Modi interacted with the Chief Ministers of the states through video conferencing. During the meet, most of them favoured extending the lock down.

Key facts:

As the lock down comes to an end on April 14, 2020, the GoI has been looking for ways to act then on. It has now been concluded that India will enter into “smart Lockdown”. Under the smart lock down, India is to be demarcated into red, orange and green zones.

What are the colour zones?

India is to be demarcated into colour zones based on the outbreak of the virus in the region. The red zones are regions that were declared as hotspots. Here no economic activity if to be allowed.

The orange zones are regions where limited public transport is to be allowed. In these regions harvesting of farm products will also be allowed. In the green zones, along with farm activities, MSME industries will also begin to function. These industries will provide in-house lodging facilities for employees along with social distancing facilities.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

April 14: World Chagas Disease Day

The world community is to celebrate World Chagas Disease Day for the first time. The main aim of marking the day is to increase awareness of Chagas disease. Also, it focuses on the resources needed to prevent, control and eliminate the disease.

The Chagas disease is also called “American trypanosomiasis”. The disease has been termed as silent and silenced disease. This is because, it progresses very slowly and mainly affects the people under poverty who do not have political voice to access health care.