TNPSC Current Affairs April 25, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs April 25, 2020 (25/04/2020)

 

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Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Ambubachi Mela

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Ambubachi Mela of Assam has been cancelled this year.

About Ambubachi Mela:

The festival symbolises the fertility cult of goddess Kamakhya.

There is no idol in the temple, the goddess is worshipped in the form of a yoni-like stone over which a natural spring flows.

Also known as Siddha Kubjika, the goddess is a Hindu tantric goddess of desire who evolved in the Himalayan hills. She is also identified as Kali and Maha Tripura.

Kamakhya, atop Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, is one of 51 shaktipeeths or seat of Shakti followers, each representing a body part of the Sati, Lord Shiva’s companion.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

World Malaria Day – April 25

World Malaria Day 2020 is being celebrated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on April 25 with the theme ‘Zero malaria starts with me’.

World Malaria Day was established on April 25 in 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, WHO’s decision-making body.

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Topic: Economic Policies in India

Operation Twist

The Reserve bank of India has decided to bring back its bond swapping programmed billed as India’s Operation Twist with an aim to help monetary transmission.

The RBI said that it will conduct purchase and sale of government securities under open market operations (OMO) for Rs10,000 crore each on 27 April.

What is ‘Operation Twist’?

‘Operation Twist’ is RBI’s simultaneous selling of short-term securities and buying of long term securities through open market operations (OMO). Under this mechanism, the short-term securities are transitioned into long-term securities.

How does RBI manage ‘Operation Twist’?

This operation involves buying and selling government securities simultaneously in order to bring down long-term interest rates and bolster short-term rates.

There is an inverse relationship between the bond prices and their yields. As the central bank buys long-term securities (bonds), their demand rise which in turn pushes up their prices.

However, the bond yield comes down with an increase in prices. Yield is the return an investor gets on his (bond) holding/investment.

The interest rate in an economy is determined by yield. Thus, lower long-term interest rates mean people can avail long-term loans (such as buying houses, cars or financing projects) at lower rates.

This also results in a dip in the expected returns from long-term savings which tilts the balance from saving towards spending. Hence, cheaper retail loans can help encourage consumption spending which is the largest GDP component in the economy.

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Topic: Welfare Oriented Govt Schemes and their Utilities, Profile of States

Swamitva Yojana

On Panchayati Raj Diwas (April 24th), the Prime Minister of India launched ‘Swamitva Yojana’ or Ownership Scheme to map residential land ownership in the rural sector using modern technology like the use of drones. The scheme aims to revolutionise property record maintenance in India.

Overview and key features of the ‘Swamitva Yojana’:

The scheme is piloted by the Panchayati Raj ministry. The residential land in villages will be measured using drones to create a non-disputable record.

Property card for every property in the village will be prepared by states using accurate measurements delivered by drone-mapping. These cards will be given to property owners and will be recognised by the land revenue records department.

Benefits of the scheme:

The delivery of property rights through an official document will enable villagers to access bank finance using their property as collateral.

The property records for a village will also be maintained at the Panchayat level, allowing for the collection of associated taxes from the owners. The money generated from these local taxes will be used to build rural infrastructure and facilities.

Freeing the residential properties including land of title disputes and the creation of an official record is likely to result in appreciation in the market value of the properties.

The accurate property records can be used for facilitating tax collection, new building and structure plan, issuing of permits and for thwarting attempts at property grabbing.

Panchayati Raj Day:

National Panchayati Raj Day is the national day of India celebrated by Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24th April annually.

Why on this day? The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 came into force with effect from 24th April, 1993. It has institutionalized Panchayati Raj through the village, Intermediate and District level Panchayats.

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Topic: Profile of States, Persons in News, Latest inventions on Science and Health

Anthurium – Air purifier plants

Anthurium is one of the best domestic flowering plants in the world. It purifies the surrounding air and remove harmful airborne chemicals like formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, xylene, and allergens. NASA has placed it in the list of air purifier plants.

Why in News?

D Vasini Bai, a women innovator from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has developed 10 varieties of Anthurium.

National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF) has facilitated mass multiplication and large scale production of four highly demanded varieties through tissue culture technique at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, for the diffusion of the varieties in similar agro-climatic zones of the country.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

Devanahalli Pomelo

In a bid to revive and conserve ‘Devanahalli Pomelo’, an endangered citrus fruit, the operators of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru have started a plantation drive in the region as part of their flagship CSR Programme ‘Namma Ooru’.

Devanahalli Pomelo has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag as it is known for its sweet taste.

Also known by its scientific name Citrus Maxima, the tree’s fruit is rich in Vitamin C. While each pomelo tree grows 24 inches per season, it can live from 50-150 years and reach a height of 25 feet.

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Topic: Current socio-economic issues, International Events

Corona on Cats

Two pet cats in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus. It is marking the first confirmed cases in companion animals in USA. The public health officials emphasized there is no evidence that animals can pass the virus to humans. Outside the United States, a small number of pets have tested positive — two dogs and one cat in Hong Kong and a cat in Belgium.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

International Delegate’s Day

For the first time, the United Nations marked the International Delegate’s Day. The Day is being marked to celebrate the 75th anniversary of San Francisco Conference.

San Francisco Conference:

On April 25, 1945, delegates from 50 countries came together in San Francisco for the first time. The main aim of the conference was to come together to restore world peace and impose rules post world war. More than 850 delegates participated in the conference. They represented 80% of the world population.

The Charter of United Nations was framed after two months of the conference, that is, on June 25, 1945.

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Topic: Awareness in Space, Latest International Events

Hubble Space Telescope: NASA’s longest living Space Telescope celebrates 30th anniversary

NASA celebrated its 30 years of launch of Hubble Space Telescope. It is one of the longest living Space Telescopes in the world.

About Hubble Space Telescope:

The Hubble Space Observatory is run in partnership with European Space Agency. The telescope has played a crucial role in the discovery of accelerating expansion of the cosmos. Also, it was Hubble Telescope that gave the evidence of existence of black holes in the centres of the galaxy.