TNPSC Current Affairs February 24, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs February 24, 2020 (24/02/2020)

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Thal Sena Bhawan, the new Army Headquarters

The Defence Minister Rajanth Singh recently laid foundation stone to construct a new Army Headquarters in Delhi Cantontment. The building has been named “Thal Sena Bhawan”.

The building is designed as a rising sun and is spread over 39 acres. The new department that integrates army, navy and air force is to be placed under Chief of Defence Staff in the new building.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

PM KISAN

PM-KISAN Scheme completes one year on February 24, 2020. So far, over 8 crore 46 lakh farmers covered under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Central Government transfers Rs. 6,000 in three tranches every year to beneficiaries.

About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi:

The scheme was started with a view to augment the income of the farmers by providing income support to all landholding farmers’ families across the country, to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs.

Under the Scheme an amount of Rs.6000/- per year is transferred in three 4-monthly installments of Rs.2000/- directly into the bank accounts of the farmers, subject to certain exclusion criteria relating to higher income status. The entire responsibility of identification of beneficiaries rests with the State / UT Governments.

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Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Jalyukta shivar

Maharashtra government has scrapped the Jalyukta Shivar- the flagship water conservation project.

What is Jalyukta Shivar? Launched in December 2014 after Maharashtra experienced consecutive droughts. Aimed at rolling out measures that could potentially mitigate water scarcity in the most drought-prone villages in a systematic manner.

Features:

The project targeted strengthening and streamlining existing water resources like canals, bunds and ponds by arresting maximum run-off rainwater during monsoon.

Tasks to widen and deepen natural water streams and connect them to nearby water storage facilities like earthern or concrete check-dams was proposed.

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Topic: Places in News, Latest Diary of Events

Pakke tiger reserve

Why in News? Arunachal Pradesh State government is planning to build a 692.7 km highway through the Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in East Kameng district. Named the East-West Industrial Corridor, the highway aims to connect Bhairabhunda in West Kameng district and Manmao in Changlang district along Arunachal Pradesh’s border with Assam.

Key facts:

Pakke Tiger Reserve is also known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve. This Tiger Reserve has won India Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category of ‘Conservation of threatened species’ for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Olive Ridley turtles

Why in News? Preparations are almost done at the Rushikulya rookery on the Odisha coast to welcome and protect olive ridley turtles during mass nesting.

Security: To provide security to mother turtles as well as the eggs from human and predator intervention, the forest department is erecting an over 5-km-long fence of metal net from Gokharkuda to Bateswar. This stretch is the most preferred location for mass nesting in the Rushikulya rookery.

Key facts:

The Olive Ridleys are the second smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. They inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It is well known for its arribadas or annual mass nestings.

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Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Surajkund International Crafts Mela

What is it? It is unique as it showcases the richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms and cultural fabric of India, & is the largest crafts fair in the world.

This is 34th time the Surajkund Mela will be held at Faridabad. The Mela is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.

Theme state: For the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2020, the state of Himachal Pradesh has been chosen to be the Theme State.

The main motto behind this festival is to promote handicrafts, handlooms with the aid of craftsmen invited from all over the country. So basically this craft festival is a platform for artists across the globe to showcase their culture and talent.

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Topic: Places in News, Latest Diary of Events

Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary

The decks have been cleared to notify the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district as a tiger reserve. The approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is expected any time now. The sanctuary presently has about 20 tigers.

Once notified, Chamarajanagar district will have the rare distinction in the country of having three tiger reserves. It already has Bandipur and Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve within its territorial limits.

Also, with this, Karnataka will have six tiger reserves, the others being Nagarahole, Bhadra, and Anshi-Dandeli, apart from Bandipur and BRT Tiger Reserves.

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Topic: Discovery of New Species

Craspedotropis gretathunbergae

It is a new species of land snail discovered recently. It is named in honour of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The new species comes from tropical rainforests and is sensitive to drought and extreme temperatures.

The snails were found during a field course conducted by Taxon Expeditions at Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre in Brunei.

Features: The two-millimetre-long snails have dark grey tentacles, a pale body and a concave shell, whose outer part is greenish-brown.

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Topic: Awards and Honours

SERB Women Excellence Award-2020

Dr Niti Kumar, Senior Scientist from Division of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow has received SERB Women Excellence Award-2020.

This award is given to women scientist below 40 years of age who have received recognition from national academies.

The women researchers will be supported by research grant of 5 lakhs per annum for 3 years by Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India (SERB-DST).