TNPSC Current Affairs July 10, 2019

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 10, 2019 (10/07/2019)

Topic: Awareness in Space, International Organization, Latest Diary of Events

NASA to launch Dragonfly

NASA plans to launch an unmanned nuclear-powered drone, Dragonfly as early as 2026 to search for life on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.

Key facts:

Dragonfly aims to search for signs of microbial alien life on Saturn’s moon Titan, while navigating its earth-like gravity and aerodynamics in the process.

Dragonfly mission is a part of NASA’s New Frontiers program, which includes a series of space exploration missions, which are being conducted with the purpose of researching several of the Solar System bodies, including the dwarf planet Pluto.

Why study Titan?

Titan is an analog to the very early Earth, and can provide clues to how life may have arisen on our planet. Titan is larger than the planet Mercury and is the second largest moon in our solar system.

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Topic: International Relations, Latest Diary of Events

India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue

Why in News? Second India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue is being held.

The IRSED was established following a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation during the 19th edition of the Annual India-Russia Bilateral Summit, which was held on October 5, 2018, in New Delhi.

The First India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in St. Petersburg in 2018.

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Topic: Environment and Ecology, Latest Diary of Events

Plan Bee

What is it? It is an amplifying system imitating the buzz of a swarm of honey bees to keep wild elephants away from railway tracks. It is a unique strategy adopted by Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

Why in news? It has earned the best innovation award in Indian Railways for the 2018-19 fiscal.

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Topic: International Diary of Events

Green tax on plane tickets

France to impose green tax on plane tickets from 2020. The new measure is expected to bring in some €182 million a year which will be invested in greener transport infrastructures, notably rail. It will only be applied on outgoing flights and not those flying into the country.

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

India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre will be set up at Kerala’s Kottoor

India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre will be set up by the Kerala State Government in its ecotourism village of Kottoor. Rs.105 crores has been allotted to this project which was launched by Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan.

Key facts:

Now the state has 507 captive elephants & forest department plans to admit more captive elephants. The centre has set up with 65 hectares of natural forests area will have elephant safari and other activities to attract tourists.

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Topic: Environment and Ecology, Latest Diary of Events

Japanese afforestation method in Telangana

The Telangana Forest department has introduced the famous Japanese “Miyawaki” method of afforestation to boost its afforestation program and to grow urban forests.

The Miyawaki method is well-known for growing mini urban forests in limited spaces in a relatively less time.

It is used in developing dense plantations in a short time. It was developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki.