TNPSC Current Affairs November 11, 2020

Topic: International Events

SCO Summit

The 20th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State was held recently via Video Conferencing. The Meeting was chaired by Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.

Key facts:

Significance of SCO Meet: 20th Summit of SCO Heads of State is important as it brought President Xi Jinping of China and Mr. Modi together in the virtual format even as both sides are caught in the high tension confrontation in Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

This was the first SCO Summit held in Virtual Format and the third meeting that India participated after becoming a full member in 2017.

The Republic of Tajikistan assumed chairmanship of SCO for 2021-22. India has proposed to set up a Special Working Group on Innovation and Startups and a Sub Group on Traditional Medicine within SCO.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:

SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation. It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.

It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003. The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese. SCO has two Permanent Bodies SCO Secretariat in Beijing, and Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.

The Chairmanship of SCO is by rotation for a year by Member States.

Genesis:

Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five. Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders.

Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organisation in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO. India and Pakistan became members in 2017.

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Topic: Places in News

Panna Biosphere Reserve, MP

Recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included the Panna Biosphere Reserve (PBR) in its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

The PBR is the third in Madhya Pradesh to be included in the list after Pachmarhi and Amarkantak. Along with PBR, the Fuvahmulahand Addu Atoll in the Maldives has also been included in the WNBR.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

National Education Day – Nov 11

The Union Minister of Education virtually inaugurated the National Education Day programme organised by IIT Bombay.

Key facts:

It has been observed every year on 11th November, since 2008 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad :

He was the first Union Education Minister of India. He was a freedom fighter, scholar and eminent educationist. He was a key architect of Independent India who was responsible for setting up apex education bodies like All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and University Grants Commission (UGC). He was posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award in 1992.

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Topic: International Events

New peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict between the countries. According to the deal, the countries will maintain positions in the areas where they currently hold. This means a significance gain to Azerbaijan.

The peace deal between the countries was brokered by Russia. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been holding, military conflict for six weeks now. The peace deal was signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashiyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

About the deal:

Azerbaijan has reclaimed over 15-20% of its lost territory in the conflict. According to the new deal, the countries will maintain the current positions they are holding. Therefore, this will benefit Azerbaijan largely.

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Topic: Awards and Honors, Profile of States

National Water Awards 2019

It was presented by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The National Water Awards 2019 is awarding the participants 98 number of awards in 16 different categories – Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Research/ Innovation/ New Technology, Best Education/ Mass Awareness effort, Best TV show, Best Newspaper, Best School, Best Institution/ RWA/ Religious Organisation, Best Industry, Best Water Regulatory Authority, Best Water Warrior, Best NGO, Best Water User Association, and Best Industry for CSR Activity. some of the categories has sub-categories in different zones of the country.

Winners:

Tamil Nadu has bagged the first place under the ‘Best State’ category. Tamil Nadu was followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan as the best states under the normal category.

Vellore and Karur districts were awarded first and second spots respectively under the ‘Revival of River’ sub-category.

The Perambalur district came second in the ‘Water Conservation’ category.

Under the ‘Water Conservation’ category for South, Sasthavinathur Village Panchayat, Thoothukudi bagged the first place.

Madurai Municipal Corporation was awarded the first place in the ‘Best Urban Local Body’ category.

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Topic: Profile of States, Discovery of Rare Species

Manipur: Orders issued to protect Amur Falcons

Amur Falcons are long distance migratory birds. They arrive in Manipur and Nagaland for roosting. They are Siberian birds that reach the North East for about two months at the onset of winter. After winter, they leave for South Africa. They traverse over 29,000 km migratory route between Siberia and South Africa.

Key facts:

In October 2019, around five birds were satellite tagged. These satellite tagged birds have reached to Manipur village again in 2020 after traversing 29,000 km. The satellite tagging project was begun after mass killing of the birds in 2015.

With the funds from Wildlife Institute of India and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change, the Manipur forest Department is implementing the project.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

World Freedom Day – November 09

World Freedom Day has been created in commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall constructed in Berlin in 1961 during the Cold War divided the city into two parts.

The Soviet Union controlled the East Germany. The French, British, and American occupied the sectors of West Germany. On this day in 1989, thousands of Germans pulled down the Berlin Wall, marking the end of the Cold War.