TNPSC Current Affairs October 29, 2019

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs Oct 29, 2019 (29/10/2019)

Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Aarambh: First ever foundation civil service course

The GoI has launched the first ever common foundation course called the “Aarambh” for civil servants at the Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Gujarat. Around 500 newly recruited bureaucrats will undergo six-day training. The World Bank president David Malpass addressed the probationers near the statue on 27th October, 2019.

The event is to be launched on October 31, 2019. PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other top functionaries will attend the event.

Topic: World Organizations, Latest International Events

BASIC countries

The 29th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change was held recently in Beijing, China.

Outcomes of the recent meet- demands by BASIC:

The developed countries to take urgent action to close gaps and provide support to developing nations as a part of the commitment under the Paris agreement on climate change.

Global climate action should promote climate justice by recognising the fundamental equality of all people in accessing economic growth and sustainable development.

There is need for people’s participation and climate friendly lifestyles for addressing the challenge of climate change.

Developed countries should take urgent actions to close the gaps, including revisiting their targets on mitigation under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, and fulfilling their commitments of providing support to developing countries.

Who are the BASIC?

The BASIC group was formed as the result of an agreement signed by the four countries on November 28, 2009. They are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Topic: India’s Foreign Relations, Latest Diary of Events

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped exchange of postal mails with India since August 27.

Background:

Other than the UPU, three agreements cover postal exchange between India and Pakistan — Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948; Exchange of Postal Article, 1974; and International Speed Post Agreement, 1987.

Who regulates postal exchange between one country and another?

The United Nations’ Universal Postal Union (UPU) frames rules for international mail exchange, and fixes rates for international postal services.

Can one UPU member-country unilaterally stop postal exchange with another?

Under UPU rules, when a country decides to suspend exchange with a country, it must notify the operator of the other country (in India’s case, India Post) and, if possible, the duration for which services are being stopped. The UPU’s International Bureau too has to be notified.

About Universal Postal Union (UPU):

A specialized agency of United Nations that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to worldwide postal system.

Established in 1874 and is second oldest international organization worldwide after International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which was established in 1865. India joined the UPU on July 1, 1876 and Pakistan on November 10, 1947.

Topic: India’s Foreign Relations, Latest Diary of Events

Shakti-2019

The 2019 edition will be held in Rajasthan. The joint exercise will focus on Counter Terrorism operations in backdrop of semi-desert terrain under United Nations Mandate.

Topic: Places in News, Latest Diary of Events

INS Baaz

It is the southernmost air station of the Indian Armed Forces. Located at Campbell Bay on the Great Nicobar island, the southernmost and largest island of the Nicobar island. This island is also the location of the Indira Point and is less than 250 km by sea from Banda Aceh in Indonesia.

The primary functions of the INS Baaz include helping build Maritime Domain Awareness by providing information via airborne surveillance using aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The location has been described as India’s “window into East and Southeast Asia”, and is in close vicinity of the Six Degree Channel, also called the Great Channel, one of the Indian Ocean’s busiest shipping lines, carrying strategic cargo to East Asian countries.

It is also close to the Strait of Malacca. It is a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-services formation of the Indian Armed Forces that was started in 2001.

Topic: Historical Diary of Events

What is Uluru?

It is an ancient sandstone monolith in Central Australia. The rock has a circumference of 9.4 km, and its 1,140-foot summit — taller than Eiffel Tower — has been a popular climbing destination. Uluru is considered sacred by Australia’s indigenous Anangu people.

Why in News? It was permanently closed to climbers recently to meet the wishes of Aboriginal people who hold the red monolith sacred.

Topic: Places in News, Persons in News

Nelloptodes gretae: Tiny beetle named after climate activist Greta Thunberg

Scientists at the British Natural History Museum in London, UK have officially named a tiny species of beetle that was discovered more than 50 years ago as ‘Nelloptodes gretae’, to honour the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist’s ‘outstanding contribution’ in raising global awareness of climate change.

About Nelloptodes gretae:

It is an arthropod, which has no eyes or wings and rather has a small pit between where the eyes should have been. It is a tiny species of beetle, pale yellow and gold, with less than 1mm long.

It belongs to Ptiliidae family, which is made up of some of the world’s smallest beetles.

The beetle was first found in 1965 by British naturalist Dr William C Block in Nairobi, Kenya. The samples taken in Kenya are stored in British Natural History Museum.

Topic: New Appointments, Persons in News

Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde appointed as 47th Chief Justice of India

Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde was appointed as 47th Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will take oath as the next head of the Indian judiciary on 18 November 2019, a day after incumbent Ranjan Gogoi demits office. His tenure will be of total 17 months and will be demitting office on 23 April 2021. Being senior most judge, his name was recommended by incumbent CJI Gogoi as per the established procedure.

About Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde:

He was born in Nagour Maharashtra on 24 April, 1955. He had studied in Nagour University. He comes from family of lawyers. His father Arvind Bobde was advocate-general of Maharashtra and his elder brother late Vinod Arvind Bobde a renowned senior advocate of Supreme Court.