TNPSC Current Affairs July 22, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 22, 2020 (22/07/2020)

Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Kalaignar Breakfast scheme

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy presented the 2020-21 Budget for the Union Territory without the approval of Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and her customary address to the House.

He announced a free breakfast scheme for poor students in government schools of Puducherry in the name of late Chief Minister and DMK President M. Karunanidhi.

Topic: Awards and Honors, Latest Diary of Events

2020 Nelson Mandela Prize

The President of United Nations General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande announced that Marianna Vardinoyannis, of Greece, and Doctor Morissana Kouyaté, of Guinea will receive the 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize.

Key facts:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established the award in June 2014.

The 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize, which is awarded every five years and recognizes those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity.

Topic: Latest Diary of Events

World Chess Day – July 20

United Nations’ (UN) First World Chess Day is celebrated all over the World. This day also marks the 95th Anniversary of the International Chess Federation called FIDE.

The FIDE’s motto of 2020 is “Teach someone how to play chess.” The modern chess is believed to be derived from the ancient board game “Chaturanga” originated in North India during the Gupta Period.

Topic: Profile of States

Delhi’s serological survey

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has declared the results of a serological survey carried out in Delhi between June 27 and July 10.

A total 21,387 samples were collected to look for the presence of antibodies.

This study has been done by the National Centre for Disease Control [NCDC] in collaboration with Govt of National Capital Territory of Delhi, following a rigorous multi-stage sampling study design.

What is a serological survey? How is it performed?

A serological survey seeks to assess the prevalence of disease in a population by detecting the presence of specific antibodies against the virus.

The survey included the IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test which estimates the proportion of the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The IgG test is not useful for detecting acute infections, but it indicates episodes of infections that may have occurred in the past.

The test has been approved by ICMR for its high sensitivity and specificity.

Benefits of serological studies:

Since it is not possible to test everyone in the population, serological studies are used as a tool to make an estimate of the extent of disease spread in the community.

Topic: India and its Neighborhood Countries

China Proposes Territory Swap with Bhutan

Recently, China has offered Bhutan a “package solution” to its boundary dispute. Although the package solution is not specified, it may be seen as a revival of the 1996 proposal by China for a territory swap.

Territory Swap:

In 1996, China wanted to exchange the valleys to the north of Bhutan (an area of 495 square kilometres), with the pasture land to the west (including Doklam), totalling 269 square kilometres.

The deal would have benefited Bhutan by giving it the larger chunk of land, and resolving its tensions with China.

However it was a big worry for India, as the Doklam swap would have given China access to the strategically sensitive “chicken neck” of the Siliguri corridor.

Repeated Claim Over Sakteng:

China also repeated its claim on Bhutan’s eastern boundary at Sakteng.

Earlier, China has made the claim over Sakteng at an online meeting of the 58th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, while unsuccessfully objecting to the funding request to develop the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary project in eastern Bhutan.

China claims that the boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited. It has had disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors of Bhutan.

However, Bhutan outrightly rejected the claim made by China by saying that Sakteng is an integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan.

According to Bhutan, China and Bhutan have a dispute in only two sectors of the border, one in the north (central) – Pasamlung and Jakarlung, and second in the west – Doklam.

There has been no mention of eastern Bhutan, where Sakteng is based, in 24 previous rounds of boundary negotiations held between the two countries between 1984 and 2016.

Reason Behind the New Offer:

The aim may be to pressure Bhutan into concluding a deal quickly on terms on offer, otherwise the claims may keep increasing.

The similar offer was made to India on Arunachal Pradesh, which subsequently expanded to include a Chinese claim on Tawang in 1985.

Concerns for India:

In 2017 China had intruded into Doklam plateau, which is claimed by Bhutan, leading to a standoff between Indian and Chinese Armies.

Even after the India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007, Indian military is virtually responsible for protecting Bhutan from the kind of external threat that the Chinese military poses.

According to the India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 1949, Bhutan allowed India to “guide” its foreign policy and defence affairs.

However, the 1949 treaty was amended in 2007 to respect the sensitivities of Bhutan regarding its sovereignty.

Under the India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007, the two sides have agreed to cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests.

Neither Government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other.

Way Forward:

Bhutan has protested against Chinese territorial claims in eastern Bhutan and said that it will also contest in future if China refers to the territory as disputed. Safety of Border from China is a concern for both India and Bhutan. Therefore, both sides need to work together on this issue.

Topic: International Events

Supply of DDT to South Africa for Malaria Control Program

Recently, HIL (India) Limited has supplied 20.60 Metric tonne of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a fertilizer to South Africa for their malaria control program.

The Company is further in the process of supplying DDT to Zimbabwe and Zambia in the current Financial Year 2020-21.

HIL (India) Limited:

It is a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

It was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture and supply DDT to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for malaria control programmes. It is the sole manufacturer of DDT globally.

DDT:

It is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound. It was first synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends DDT as one of the efficient Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) chemicals to curb mosquito menace and it is widely used by Southern African countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and India.

Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Technology

MANODARPAN: Mental Health Initiative

Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has launched the ‘Manodarpan’ initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

It is aimed to provide psychosocial support to students, family members and teachers for their mental health and well-being during the times of Covid-19.

Key Facts:

The platform includes a national toll free helpline for students of schools, universities and colleges, which will be manned by a pool of experienced counsellors, psychologists and mental health professionals.

It also has a website, a national database of counsellors which will host an interactive online chat platform, advisories and tips through webinars and other resources.

Therefore, it would help children as well as their parents in facing tense situations and its effects on academics.

Topic: Awards and Honours

Greta Thunberg – Gulbenkian Prize

The Climate Activist Greta Thunberg was awarded the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. She was awarded with prize money of 1 million Euros.

The Climate Activist is to donate the prize money to organizations focused on environment and climate change. She was selected among 136 nominees from 43 countries.