TNPSC Current Affairs April 09, 2018

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs April 09, 2018 (09/04/2018)

Topic: Indian cultural Panorama, Latest Diary of Events

Walmiki and Malhar, two new languages discovered

Researchers have discovered two new languages- Walmiki and Malhar.

Key facts:

The languages are categorised `endangered’ as the number of people speaking is small. These languages are spoken in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Only a few people living in the forest and hilly areas speak these languages.

Walmiki is spoken in Koraput of Odisha and on the bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh. Walmiki is an isolate language i.e. it does not belong to a family of languages.

The name of the language is also interesting and indicative because the speech community claims descent from the great Indian saint-poet Valmiki.

Malhar is spoken in a remote and isolated hamlet which is almost 165 km from Bhubaneswar.

The community consists of about 75 speakers including children. It belongs to the North Dravidian subgroup of the Dravidian family of languages and has close affinities with the other North Dravidian languages like Malto and Kurux spoken in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.

Topic : Environment and Ecology, Latest Diary of Events

Manas National Park

Assam Spring Festival is being held at the Manas National Park where visitors will get to experience the state’s local food, music, handloom and handicrafts.

The aim of the event is to promote the local food and culture of the fringe villagers. It is an attempt to create a model of alternative livelihood through food, handloom and culture.

Key facts:

Manas National Park is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam, India.

Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.

Topic : Latest Diary of Events, General Administration, Profile of States

Railway link between India and Nepal

India will build a strategic railway link between Raxaul in Bihar and Kathmandu in Nepal to facilitate people-to-people contact and bulk movement of goods.

Significance:

The proposal to link Raxaul to Kathamandu gains significance as it comes nearly two years after China, in March 2016, agreed to construct a strategic railway link with Nepal through Tibet with an apparent aim of reducing Kathmandu’s dependence on India.

It also comes in the backdrop of recent Chinese linkages with Nepal as it took on building three highways to be completed by 2020.

Topic : Indian Army, Defense and Navy

Desert Tiger 5

It is a joint military exercise between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia. It is aimed at sharing expertise and enhancing joint military actions.

The drill was also aimed at raising the level of performance and combat efficiency and working together based on a strategy to improve the overall ability and combat readiness of the ground forces.

Topic : International Current Events

Sugar tax comes into effect in the UK

The sugar tax has come into force in the UK placing a levy on soft drink manufacturers. The money from the tax will go to the Department for Education.

The move aims to help tackle childhood obesity. Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are now the single biggest source of dietary sugar for children and teenagers.

Topic : New inventions on Science and technology, Latest Diary of Events

Phosphorus pentoxide

The government has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of Phosphorus pentoxide from China to protect the domestic manufacturers from cheap shipments.

Key facts:

Phosphorus Pentoxide is used as a powerful desiccant and dehydrating agent and is a useful building block and reagent in the chemical industry.

Phosphorus pentoxide is not flammable.

It reacts vigorously with water and water-containing substances like wood or cotton, liberates much heat and may even cause fire. It is corrosive to metal.