TNPSC Current Affairs February 18, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs February 18, 2020 (18/02/2020)

_

Download as PDF

Topic: Latest inventions in Science and Health, Latest Diary of Events

Yara Virus

Researchers have discovered an unusually small virus in a lake in Brazil. The virus has been named Yara virus after ‘Yara’, a water-queen figure in Brazilian mythology. The Yara virus infects amoeba. It has genes that have not been described before. The Yara virus does not infect human cells.

_

Topic: Places in News, Latest Diary of Events

Melting of Thwaites Glacier

A new study has detected the presence of warm water at a vital point beneath the Thwaites glacier as the cause of its melting. The study has observed that the temperature of the water at the grounding zone of the glacier is two degrees higher than the freezing point of the water.

Thwaites Glacier: Thwaites Glacier is 120 km wide, fast-moving glacier located in Antarctica. Its melting already contributes 4% to global sea-level rise each year. Thwaites is often called the Doomsday Glacier.

_

Topic: Awards and Honours, Latest Diary of Events

Genome Valley Excellence Award of BioAsia 2020

The following persons will be presented with the Genome Valley Excellence Award of BioAsia 2020.

1. American immunologist and oncologist Dr. Carl H June &
2. Pharmaceutical company Novartis CEO Dr. Vasant Narasimhan.

Genome Valley Excellence Award was instituted in 2004. This award is presented to recognize and honour eminent individuals & organisations for their exceptional contribution to the life science research & public health.

_

Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Punjab Kinnow

The Punjab Agri Export Corporation recently launched the ‘Punjab Kinnow’ brand at the kinnow festival in Abohar.

This brand of kinnow, which is considered the ‘king fruit’ of Punjab, is also said to be “pesticide-free”. Punjab being the largest producer of kinnow in the country, such branding will attract more consumers.
_

Topic: Awards and Honours, Latest Diary of Events

ERONET

The Election Commission of India has been awarded ‘Silver’ for Excellence in Government Process re-engineering for digital transformation for the year 2019-20. The award was given in recognition of ERONET.

Key facts:

ERONET is a common database for all States and UTs with data of 91 crore electors.

It provides bedrock of electoral roll in providing various web services to Conduct of Elections applications of Election Commission of India.

It automates the process of electoral roll management starting from elector registration, field verification of electors, decision support system for Electoral registration officers and for providing extensive integrated value-added services.

_

Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival

The Naga tribes of Manipur celebrated seed sowing festival ‘Lui-Ngai-Ni’ in Manipur. The 2-day festival was inaugurated under the theme of “Oneness through Culture”. Lui-Ngai-Ni is one of the biggest festivals of the Naga community.

_

Topic: Places in India, Latest Diary of Events

India – 14,100 tonnes of the rare metal, Lithium Reserves found

The researchers at the India’s Atomic Energy Commission have found Lithium Reserves of 14,100 tonnes in Mandya. Mandya is 100 km away from Bengaluru, Karnataka. Being a very rare metal Lithium is mainly used in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.

Key facts:

The reserves found is very little as compared to the world’s leading producers of Lithium. Of the major producers Chile produces 8.6 million tonnes, Australia produces 2.8 million tonnes and 1.7 million tonnes in Argentina.

India’s Scenario: Currently, India imports 1.2 billion USD worth lithium batteries (2019). This has increased significantly. In 2017, India imported 384 million USD worth lithium batteries.