TNPSC Current Affairs January 18, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs January 18, 2020 (18/01/2020)

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration, Profile of States

Development Support Services For States/UTs (DSSS) For Infrastructure Projects

NITI Aayog and Ladakh Union Territory have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, under which NITI Aayog will support the administration of the Ladakh through its initiative “Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects” (DSSS).

About Development Support Services For States/UTs (DSSS) For Infrastructure Projects:

In order to achieve transformational, sustained delivery of infrastructure projects with state of art capacity disseminated at all levels of governance and it is implemented by NITI Aayog.

The key objective: Creating PPP success stories and rebooting infrastructure project delivery models so a sustainable infrastructure creation cycle is established.

How it works? The DSSS Infrastructure initiative involves providing project level support from Concept plan till financial closure to State Governments / UTs.

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Topic: International Events

Australian Bushfires

Australia was recently ravaged by the worst wildfires seen in decades, with large swaths of the country devastated since the fire season began.

All this has been exacerbated by persistent heat and drought, and many point to climate change as a factor making natural disasters go from bad to worse.

Regions affected:

There have been fires in every Australian state, but New South Wales has been hardest hit. Blazes have torn through bushland, wooded areas, and national parks like the Blue Mountains.

Some of Australia’s largest cities have also been affected, including Melbourne and Sydney — where fires have damaged homes in the outer suburbs and thick plumes of smoke have blanketed the urban center.

What is causing the fires?

Each year there is a fire season during the Australian summer, with hot, dry weather making it easy for blazes to start and spread. Natural causes are to blame most of the time, like lightning strikes in drought-affected forests.

Dry lightning was responsible for starting a number of fires in Victoria’s East Gippsland region. Humans can also be to blame. NSW police have charged at least 24 people with deliberately starting bushfires.

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Topic: Places in News, General Administration

Z Morh tunnel

Govt awards over Rs 2000 cr for completing Z Morh tunnel.

Key facts:

The 6.5-kilometre long Z-Morh tunnel is located in Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel is capable of allowing 1,000 vehicles an hour at a speed of 80 km per hour.

Border Road Organization (BRO) was the previous implementation agency of the project. The project was however transferred to IL&FS in 2016. APCO will now complete the balance work.

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Topic: India and its Foreign Relations, Latest Diary of Events

Russia: Production of S-400 missiles begins

Russia announced that the production of S-400 air defence missile system for India has begun. The missiles are to be delivered by 2025. Russia also announced that the foreign Ministerial meet of Russia, India and China is to be held in March 2020.

Missiles The upgraded version of the S-400 missiles that were previously available only to Russian forces are to be delivered to India by 2025.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

Firsts of Census 2021

For the first time, the Census will collect data of transgenders headed houses. Also, the census will enquire about “Main cereal”, which is also included for the first time in the history of census of India.

Key facts:

The Census 2021 is to ask 31 questions to the citizens. For the first time of Indian history, the following are to be included

The information about households run by transgender is to be collected. Under the question of sex of household head, male, female and transgender is to be collected.

The Census 2021 is to be conducted through mobile phone application

Inquiry about main cereal consumed

Earlier it was announced that the census for the first time will collect data on OBC. However, this has not been included. Rather there is provision of SC/ST in the census.

The questions to be asked are decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The census is to begin by September 2020.