TNPSC Current Affairs July 17, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 17, 2020 (17/07/2020)

 

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Topic: Political System in India

Dichotomy in Animal Sacrifice: SC

Recently, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Kerala government on a plea challenging the Kerala Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1968.

The Act prohibits sacrifice of animals and birds in temples to ‘please’ the deity.

It also criminalizes the intent behind the animal sacrifice and not animal sacrifice per se.

If the sacrifice is not for pleasing any deity but for personal consumption even in the precincts of the temple, it is not forbidden.

Background:

The plea challenged the 16th June 2020 Kerala High Court order upholding the 1968 Act.

Essential Practice: The petitioners, who are Shakthi worshippers, appealed that animal sacrifice is an integral part of the worship and an essential religious practice.

They are unable to perform “Bali” rituals after the ban which they believe is diminishing the family deity’s power.

Shaktism or Shakthi tantric practice is a major tradition of Hinduism and as per its scriptures and practices, animal sacrifice is essential and unavoidable.

Discriminatory: It was also argued that the Act applies only to Hindus but does not stop other religions from practising it which is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 (Right to Equality before the Law) of the Constitution.

Petitioners referred to bird sacrifice at a Church in Kochi and the festival of Bakrid which have not been banned.

According to the state assembly, killing animals in other religious practices cannot be considered as a sacrifice because the animals are later cooked and consumed.

Enforce Blanket Prohibition: They held that if the killing of animals and birds was to be prohibited, it should be for all purposes, religious or otherwise.

Supreme Court’s Reaction:

The SC highlighted the dichotomy in animal protection law which allows the killing of animals for food but does not permit the killing of animals as an offering to a deity.

The court raised an important question of “Is killing, not cruelty?” and highlighted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 which allows the killing of animals but prohibits cruelty to animals. According to the SC, there may be a point in saying that taking lives is permissible in certain circumstances but cruelty is not.

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Topic: India and its Foreign Relations

India – Iran

Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that India is no longer involved in the Farzad-B gas field project of Iran.

Further, it said that India has not received any response from Iran since December 2019 on the future of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project as well.

It cited policy changes by the Iranian government, Iran’s uncertain finances, and the USA sanctions situation as the reasons behind the decisions on Indian infrastructure projects in Iran.

Farzad-B Gas Field:

It is located in Persian Gulf (Iran). The contract for exploration of the field was signed in 2002 by Indian consortium comprising ONGC Videsh, Indian Oil Corporation and Oil India.

The contract expired in 2009 after declaration of commerciality of the field, based on the gas discovery.

It has gas reserves of more than 19 trillion cubic feet. ONGC has invested approximately USD 100 million.

Since then, the consortium has been trying to secure the contract for development of the field.

The major dispute between India and Iran was over setting up of two pipelines, and also over money to be quoted on the development plan.

Around 75% of the deal was finalised by May 2018, when the USA unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and announced sanctions on Iran.

In January 2020, India was informed that in the immediate future, Iran would develop the field on its own and would like to involve India appropriately at a later stage.

Key facts:

India needs to play a balancing act between the USA and Iran. Further, India needs to closely watch the space created by its exit.

In a world where connectivity is seen as the new currency, India’s loss on account of these projects can become gain for some other country, especially China.

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Topic: International Events

Agreement on Scientific Cooperation Between India and EU

Recently, India and the European Union (EU) agreed to renew the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation for the next five years (2020-2025) during the virtual 15th India-EU Summit.

European Union:

European Union (EU), is an international organization comprising 27 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies.

The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993.

The treaty was designed to enhance European political and economic integration by creating a single currency (the euro), a unified foreign and security policy, and common citizenship rights and by advancing cooperation in the areas of immigration, asylum, and judicial affairs.

Renewal of Agreement on Scientific Cooperation:

India and the EU have agreed to further collaborate in research and innovation based on the principles of mutual benefit and reciprocity, as established in the India-EU Agreement on Science and Technology (2001) which expired on 17th May 2020.

Both parties are also committed to launch the renewal procedure for the above agreement and acknowledge 20 years of cooperation on research and innovation.

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Topic: Profile of States

Preference to plasma donors in government jobs

Assam government has decided to Give Preference To Plasma Donors In Government Jobs.

Other benefits announced:

They can entail extra marks in interviews. They will get a certificate. Government is also considering giving preference to them in government schemes.

People of other States who donate plasma would be provided with State guest house facilities if they visit Assam and the State government would bear the cost of their return air ticket.

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Topic: Terms in News

APT29

APT29 (also known as ‘the Dukes’ or ‘Cozy Bear’) is a cyber espionage group, almost certainly part of the Russian intelligence services.

The group uses a variety of tools and techniques to predominantly target governmental, diplomatic, think-tank, healthcare and energy targets for intelligence gain.

APT29 is using custom malware known as ‘WellMess’ and ‘WellMail’ to target a number of organisations globally. Now, it is accused of trying to steal vaccine data.

Topic: Places in News

Chattogram Port

First trial container ship flagged off from Kolkata to Agartala through Chattogram Port of Bangladesh. The ship has been launched under the Agreement on the use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for the movement of India’s transit cargo through Bangladesh.

 

Key facts:

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports in 2015, after years of demand from India.

According to this, goods that reach Chattogram and Mongla sea ports, will be carried by road, rail, and water ways to Agartala (Tripura) via Akhaura; Dawki (Meghalaya) via Tamabil; Sutarkandi (Assam) via Sheola, and Srimantpur (Tripura) via Bibirbazar.

This covers waterways, roads and railways. It will allow the landlocked Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura states to access open sea trade routes through Chattogram and Mongla ports.

Under the 2015 river protocol, vessels were allowed to carry a maximum of 2,000 tonnes of cargo. But now larger ships would ply the waterways, increasing the trade volume and reducing logistic costs.

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Topic: India and its Neighboring Countries

India-Bhutan Open New Trade Route

India and Bhutan have opened a new trade route between Jaigaon in West Bengal and Pasakha in Bhutan.

This new land route for movement of industrial raw materials and goods destined for Pasakha Industrial Estate will boost bilateral trade and commerce and lead to decongestion of vehicular traffic along the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing route.