TNPSC Current Affairs June 16, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs June 16, 2020 (16/06/2020)

 

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Talamaddale

The traditional art of ‘talamaddale’, a variant of Yakshagana theatre, has gone virtual in times of COVID-19. A performance was streamed live on social media on June 13.

It is an ancient form of performance dialogue or debate performance in Southern India in the Karavali and Malnad regions of Karnataka and Kerala.

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Topic: Latest Reports and Events, India and its Neighboring Countries

SIPRI report on India China Nuclear weapons

A new yearbook released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The yearbook “assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security”.

What is SIPRI?

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) established in 1966 is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.

Based in Stockholm the Institute provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.

Latest report – India and its neighbours:

All nations that have nuclear weapons continue to modernise their nuclear arsenals, while India and China increased their nuclear warheads in the last one year.

China is in the middle of a significant modernisation of its nuclear arsenal. China’s nuclear arsenal had gone up from 290 warheads in 2019 to 320 in 2020.

China is developing a so-called nuclear triad for the first time, made up of new land and sea-based missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft.

India’s nuclear arsenal went up from 130-140 in 2019 to 150 in 2020. Pakistan, too, is slowly increasing the size and diversity of the nuclear forces. It has reached 160 in 2020.

Both China and Pakistan continue to have larger nuclear arsenals than India.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

Indian Gas Exchange launched in e-ceremony

Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) is the first nationwide online delivery-based gas trading platform. IGX will be a delivery-based trading platform for delivery of natural Gas.

Incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the IEX – India’s energy market platform. The platform is fully automated with web-based interface to provide seamless trading experience to the customers.

How will this exchange work?

The IGX is a digital trading platform that will allow buyers and sellers of natural gas to trade both in the spot market and in the forward market for imported natural gas across three hubs —Dahej and Hazira in Gujarat, and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Malathion

HIL India Ltd. supplies 25 MT Malathion 95% ULV Insecticides to Iran for Locust Control Programme.

It is a pesticide that is widely used in agriculture, residential landscaping, public recreation areas, and in public health pest control programs such as mosquito eradication.

Key facts:

As per the reports of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the hopper stage population of locust is building up in Sistan-Baluchistan Region of Iran, which shall migrate to India in coming months leading to further crop devastation. Government of India has taken an initiative to counter the locust menace at its breeding ground itself and approached Iran for coordinated efforts.

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Topic: Eminent Places in News

Places in News

As part of 32nd session of the Dekho Apna Desh webinar series of Ministry of Tourism titled “Trekking in the Himalayas- Magical Experiences”.

Places:

Kuari Pass (Uttrakhand): This trek was explored by Lord Curzon and is also knows as the Curzon trail.

Brahma Taal (Uttrakhand): It is a hidden and secluded lake amidst the ridge, where Lord Brahma meditated according to the mythology.

Fotoksaris a picturesque village in Ladakh. It is the part of the Lingshed- Padum trek (also known as The Great Zanskar trek).

Roopkhund (Uttarakhand): It is a high altitude glacial lake. It lies in the lap of Trishul massif.

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Topic: Discovery of Rare Species, Profile of States

Magallanodon baikashkenke

Researchers from Chile and Argentine have discovered teeth of an extinct species of the lineage of Gondwanatheria. It was unearthed in Patagonia. The species is named Magallanodon baikashkenke.

Key facts:

The animal is the oldest mammal ever discovered in Chile.

The name Magallanodon is due to the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Hernando de Magallanes and Baikashkenke’s first round the world tribute to the Tehuelches, in whose language it means “grandfather’s valley”.

The small mammal would have lived in southern Patagonia during the late Cretaceous era, alongside dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles and birds.