TNPSC Current Affairs June 29, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs June 29, 2020 (29/06/2020)

 

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

29th June: National Statistics Day

To popularize the use of Statistics in everyday life, every year 29th June is celebrated as the National Statistics Day. The day 29th June was chosen to acknowledge the invaluable contributions made by Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in establishing the National Statistical System.

 29th June is the birth anniversary of Prof. P.C Mahalanobis. National Statistics Day was celebrated first in the year 2007. World Statistics Day is celebrated on October 20th every year.

Theme of National Statistics Day 2020 “SDG- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) & SDG- 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls)”.

The day is being celebrated to sensitize the citizens of the country as to how Statistics helps in shaping and framing policies.

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Topic: International Events

Longest lightning strike in Brazil

Brazil recorded a lightning strike that travelled a distance of 709 kilometres in 2018. According to a new analysis from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), this epic “megaflash” was the single longest lightning bolt ever recorded. The epic ‘megaflash’ was long enough to connect Chicago with Toronto.

Key facts:

The previous record for the longest detected distance for a single lightning flash was for 321 km on June 20, 2007, across the US state of Oklahoma.

Brazil has the highest incidence of lightning in the world — an average of 77.8 million strikes per year.

Argentina recorded a strike that lasted for 16.73 seconds in 2019.

The previous record was a single lightning flash that lasted continuously for 7.74 seconds on August 30, 2012 over Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.

The lightning flashes that have now entered the record books are known as ‘Megaflashes’ in scientific parlance.

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Topic: Terms in News, International Events

Anthropause (Great Pause)

Anthropause is also called as the “Great Pause”, is a term mentioned by the researchers in the UK. It refers to the coronavirus-induced lockdown period and its impact on other species.

How curbs imposed during this period led to unusual animal behaviour?

There were pumas sighted in Chile’s Santiago, jackals in the parks of Tel Aviv in Israel, dolphins in the waters of Italy and even a monkey fight on the streets of Thailand.

Why study this period?

As a result of the lockdown, nature appears to have changed, especially in urban environments, since not only are there now more animals, but also some “unexpected visitors”.

On the other hand, there are some animals for whom the lockdown may have made things more challenging.

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Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Maareech

It is an advanced anti-torpedo decoy system that is capable of being fired from all frontline ships. It was recently inducted by the Indian Navy.

Designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It is capable of detecting, locating and neutralizing incoming torpedo.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Health

Gynandromorphs

Recently, a rare biological phenomenon i.e. Gynandromorphism has been spotted in a dragonfly, the Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia), which is found in the Kole wetlands, Kerala. The dragonfly had both male and female characteristics.

Key facts:

Gynandromorphism is a characteristic of an organism that contains both male and female tissues and characteristics. Such organisms are also called gynandromorphs.

The phenomenon has been documented in birds, crustaceans and butterflies.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Health

Delhi – First Plasma Bank in India

To treat COVID-19 patients, Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was announced that a ‘Plasma Bank’ will be set up at the National Capital in the next two days. The Plasma Bank will be set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS).

At the Delhi Government’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, 35 people have been administered with Plasma Therapy out of which 34 have survived. In order to meet the demand of Plasma, the Chief Minister has urged cured COVID-19 patients to come forward and donate plasma.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration, Profile of States

Indian Government signs agreement for Two Projects in Tamil Nadu with World Bank Group

An agreement was signed between the World Bank Group and the Government of India for providing urban poor in the state of Tamil Nadu access to affordable housing.

The agreement signed has two projects under it-

(i) Tamil Nadu Housing Sector Strengthening Program and

(ii) Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat Development Project.

The loans for both the project are from the lending arm of the World Bank Group the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The maturity of both the loans including 3.5 years grace period is 20 years.

Tamil Nadu Housing Sector Strengthening Program:

As per the agreement, a loan of USD 200 million has been sanctioned under the Program. The aim of the program is to support the ongoing efforts made by the government in the state for increasing affordable housing for low-income families. In order to achieve this, the program will work towards incentivizing the participation of the private sector by unlocking the barriers set by regulatory policies.

Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat Development Project:

For this project, a loan agreement of USD 50 million has been sanctioned as per the agreement. The objective of this project will be to strengthen the housing sector policies, regulations, and institutions of the state. Through the project, innovations in housing finance will also be supported. Out of the USD 50 million for the project, as a part of innovation in housing finance, Tamil Nadu Shelter Fund will be provided an equity contribution of USD 35 million.

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Topic: India and its Neighborhood Countries

India & Bhutan for Joint Venture Hydroelectric Project

A concession agreement was signed between the Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited and the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The Concession Agreement provides the right to Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited to operate the Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project within the jurisdictions of the Bhutanese Government.

Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project:

The project will be located on the Kholongchhu River in Eastern Bhutan’s Trashiyangtse District. The run of the river Hydroelectric Project will of 600 MW and is expected to be completed by the second half of 2025.

For the implementation and development of the Hydroelectric project, a joint venture between Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation and India’s Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited was formed on 12th June 2015. The joint venture was named as Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited.