TNPSC Current Affairs February 21, 2018

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs February 21, 2018 (21/02/2018)

 

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

Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarkhand as part of ‘Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana’.

Facts related to Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel:

The construction of this tunnel will provide all weather connectivity to Yamunotri, one of the dham on Chardham Yatra, encouraging regional socio-economic development, trade and tourism within the country.

It will reduce the travel distance from Dharasu to Yamunotri by about 20 km and travel time by about an hour.

The project will be falling along NH-134 (old NH-94) in the State of Uttarakhand.

The project will be built under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Mode. This is funded under NH (O) Scheme of Ministry of RT&H and forms part of ambitious Chardham Plan.

About Chardham Pariyojana:

The Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna, or the Chardham highway development project, is an ambitious initiative to improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas.

The project’s main objective is to develop around 900 km of national highways.

The project will make travel to the Char Dham (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath) safer and more convenient.

Apart from widening, the road transport and highways ministry plans to improve the stretches to two-lane carriageway with paved shoulders, protect landslide hazard zones, construct bypasses, long bridges, tunnels and elevated corridors to ensure safety for the users.

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Topic : The National and Defense, Terrorism Activities

Saras

The indigenous light transport aircraft (LTA) Saras PT1N recently completed the second of the proposed 20 test flights.

SARAS PT1N is first Indian multi-purpose civilian aircraft in light transport aircraft category.

It is an indigenous aircraft developed by the National Aeronautics Laboratories (NAL), which is overseen by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

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

Mizoram to get first regional agricultural centre with Israeli collaboration

A regional centre for agriculture has been set up with Israeli collaboration in Mizoram — the first of its kind in the northeast region.

The centre has been set up to exclusively process citrus fruits.

Background: There are 22 such centres operational in India, including in Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab. The first such centre was established in 2008 in Haryana.

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Topic : Latest Diary of Events

International Mother Language Day: 21 February

The United Nations’ (UN) International Mother Language Day annually celebrates language diversity and variety worldwide on February 21.

With this, UNESCO aims at preserving it and promoting mother tongue-based multilingual education.

The theme of 2018’s International Mother Language Day is ‘linguistic diversity and multilingualism for sustainable development’.

International Mother Language Day also supports target 6 of Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): “Ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy”.

Background:

There are more than 7,000 languages in the world; India alone has about 22 officially recognised languages, 1635 rationalised mother tongues, 234 identifiable mother tongues, according to Census 2001.

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Topic : Latest Diary of Events, World Organizations, Summits and Pacts

India to host World Environment Day 2018

India is the global host of 2018 World Environment Day which will take place on June 5, 2018.

Theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution”.

Background:

World Environment Day is a UN Environment-led global event, the single largest celebration of our environment each year, which takes place on June 5 and is celebrated by thousands of communities worldwide.

Since it began in 1972, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated across the globe.

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Topic : Books and Authors, Latest Diary of Events

Tamilanban’s translated poems released

‘The Essential Erode Tamilanban’ and ‘Still a Few More Questions’ — two compilations of his poems translated into English and other languages.

About Tamilanban:

“Erode” Tamilanban, also spelled as Erode Tamizhanban is a Tamil poet and writer from Tamil Nadu, India.

In 2004, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for his poetry collection Vanakkam Valluva.

He has also worked as a newsreader for Doordarshan. He is a board member of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram.

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Topic : Reports and Summits, Latest Diary of Events

Each year, 6 lakh newborns die within 28 days of birth in India

According to a new Unicef study, A quarter of global neonatal deaths happen in India where nearly 600,000 newborns die within 28 days of their birth every year.

As per the data, the number of newborn deaths in India to be one of the highest in the world.

And also the causes are preventable and treatable as 80% of these fatalities happen for no serious reason.

On the other side, the study says India has remarkably reduced the under-five mortality.

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Topic : Latest Diary of Events

Itkhori to have world’s tallest stupa

The world’s tallest ‘Buddha’ stupa will be built at Itkhori in Jharkhand.

As per records, the 104 feet Buddhist stupa built by King Ashoka at Kesaria in East Champaran of Bihar is presently considered the world’s largest Buddhist stupa.

A master plan would be ready by March and the detailed project report would be prepared by July.