TNPSC Current Affairs February 20, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs February 20, 2020 (20/02/2020)

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Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Law commission of India

The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of the 22nd Law Commission, which advises the government on complex legal issues. The term of the previous law panel had ended in August last year.

With the cabinet approval, the law ministry will now notify the new panel, which will have a term of three years.

Roles and functions:

The Law Commission shall, on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo motu, undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms and enacting new legislation.

It shall also undertake studies and research for bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation, etc.

About the law commission of India:

It is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India. Originally formed in 1955, the commission is reconstituted every three years and so far, 277 reports have been submitted to the government.

The last Law Commission, under Justice B.S. Chauhan (retd.), had submitted reports and working papers on key issues such as simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies and a uniform civil code.

Prior to independence, the First Law Commission was established in 1834 by the British Government under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay.

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Topic: Welfare Oriented Govt Schemes and their Utilities

Changes in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana To Make It Optional For Farmers

Cabinet Approves Changes in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to address the existing challenges in implementation.

Changes approved:

Allocation of business to Insurance Companies to be done for three years.

Central Subsidy under PMFBY/RWBCIS to be limited for premium rates upto 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops. Districts having 50% or more irrigated area will be considered as irrigated area/district.

Flexibility to States/UTs to implement the Scheme with option to select any or many of additional risk covers/features like prevented sowing, localised calamity, mid-season adversity, and post-harvest losses.

For estimation of crop losses/admissible claims, two-Step Process to be adopted based on defined Deviation matrix” using specific triggers like weather indicators, satellite indicators, etc. for each area along with normal ranges and deviation ranges.

Enrolment under the Scheme to be made voluntary for all farmers. Central Share in Premium Subsidy to be increased to 90% for North Eastern States from the existing sharing pattern of 50:50.

Background:

Under the PMFBY, which was launched in February 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is mandatory for loanee farmers to take insurance cover under this scheme. Currently, 58 percent of the total farmers are loanee. Various farmers’ body and states were raising some concerns on this.

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Topic: International Diary of Events

UK’s points-based visa policy

UK has launched the new points-based immigration system, which intends to change the way migrants will come to the UK to work, study, visit or join their family. Effective from January 1, 2021, the new immigration system affects the EU citizens, who will now be treated at par with non-EU citizens.

Non-EU citizens already follow a points-based system to migrate to the UK.

What’s a points-based policy?

The implementation of the points-based system does not change the status of those EU citizens already in the UK as per the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and those whose status under EUSS is settled. The points-based immigration system will take effect from January 1, 2021 and will end free movement between the UK and EU, treating both EU and non-EU citizens equally.

Under this system, points will be assigned for specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions and visas will be awarded to those who will have enough points.

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Topic: Sports

India to host AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022

India will host the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. This was announced by the Women’s Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Background:

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is a quadrennial competition in women’s football for national teams which belong to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The competition also serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

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Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Lockheed Martin helicopters

Cabinet Committee on Security clears procurement of 24 US multi-role helicopters for Indian Navy. The 24 Lockheed Martin helicopters will be procured through the foreign military sales (FMS) route from the US government.

The multi-role helicopters will be equipped with Hellfire missiles and torpedoes, and are meant to help the Indian Navy track submarines in the Indian Ocean, where China is expanding its presence.

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Topic: Current Socio-Economic Issues

Blue Economy Partnership – India & Norway

India and Norway jointly inaugurated a Task Force of Blue Economy for Sustainable Development. The third meet of the task force was held on February 18, 2020.

They also launched a new collaboration of Integrated Ocean Management and Research at the meet. 70% of the Norwegian Economy depends on maritime industry of the country.

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Topic: Welfare Oriented Govt Schemes and their Utilities

Tilhan Mission

Government of India is to launch “TILHAN MISSION” to boost the oil seed production. The announcement was made at an occasion of Soil Health Card Day. Soil Health Card Day was celebrated all over India on February 19, 2020.

Currently India is the fourth largest vegetable oil economy in the world after USA, China and Brazil. Previously the National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare.

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Topic: Awards and Honours, Persons in News

Oscar Awards 2020

The 92nd Academy (Oscars) Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on 9 February 2020. Oscar Awards are given by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Oscar 2020 Winners List:

Best actor: Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

Best actress: Renée Zellweger – Judy

Best director: Bong Joon ho – Parasite

Best picture: Parasite

Best supporting actor: Brad Pitt in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Best animated short: Hair Love

Best original screenplay: Parasite

Best documentary: American Factory

Best cinematography: 1917

Best international feature film: Parasite

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Third most spoken language – Hindi

With 615 million speakers all over the world, Hindi become the third most spoken language in the world. English is at the top with 1,132 million speakers followed by Mandarin with 1,117 million speakers.

The Ethnologue published yearly database on living languages of the world. It covered more than 7,111 living languages. It also published data on languages that were gone out of usage in the recent history and that included around 348 languages.