Important TNPSC Current Affairs February (09-20), 2021

Topic: New inventions on Science and Technology

Hunter Syndrome: MPS II

Two brothers suffering from Mucopolysaccharidosis II or MPS II (Hunter Syndrome, Attenuated Type) have approached the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre and AIIMS to provide them free treatment. MPS II is a rare disease that is passed on in families.

Key facts:

MPS II mostly affects boys and their bodies cannot break down a kind of sugar that builds bones, skin, tendons and other tissues.

Cause: It is caused by changes (mutations) of the IDS gene that regulates the production of the iduronate 2-sulfatase (I2S) enzyme.

This enzyme is needed to break-down complex sugars, known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), produced in the body.

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Topic: Discovery of Rare Species

Brookesia nana

It is a recently discovered chameleon from the island country of Madagascar. It may be the world’s smallest adult reptile. The male has a total length of 21.6 mm. The female is slightly longer at 28.9 mm. Previously, the chameleon species Brookesia micra was thought to be the smallest.

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Topic: International Events

Russia to Launch 40 Satellites in March 2021

The space industry of Russia announced that the country is going to launch 40 satellites into orbit from 18 different countries of the world in March 2021.

Key facts:

The satellites will be launched using the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket. It was also informed in the November 2020 that the space industry will blast off the Soyuz-2.1 on March 20, 2021. Soyuz 2.1 is a carrier rocket with the Fregat booster.

It will be blast off with the South Korean Compact Advanced Satellite 500 space vehicle called CAS500-1. Payloads from 18 countries will also be launched into orbit along with Soyuz 2.1 and CAS500-1. However, the list of the satellites is not yet finalised.

The Soyuz-2.1 payload will launch satellites from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan,South Korea, UAE, Israel, Thailand, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Netherland, Slovakia, Spain, Tunisia and the United Kingdom.

Soyuz-2:

It is the advanced version of the Russian Soyuz rocket. The basis version of the rocket is a three-stage launch vehicle that is used to place the payloads into low Earth orbit. The first-stage of the rocket boosters and two core stages feature the uprated engines along with the improved injection systems. The rocket system also comprises of the Digital flight control and telemetry systems. It allows the rocket launching from a fixed launch platform. The rocket flown with an upper stage. The upper stage allows the rocket to lift the payloads into higher orbits. It is usually equipped with the independent flight control and telemetry systems.

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Topic: New inventions on Science and Technology

Bengaluru scientists develop a new marigold variety

Named Arka Shubha, the variety has been developed by the Hessarghatta-based Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR). This variety of marigold has a carotene content of 2.8%, which is the highest content from a plant source.

It will fetch money even if they get spoilt as it can be used for extraction of crude carotene, which is mainly used in the pharmaceutical sector.

Carotenes are photosynthetic pigments important for photosynthesis. Carotenes contain no oxygen atoms. They absorb ultraviolet, violet, and blue light and scatter orange or red light, and (in low concentrations) yellow light.

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Topic: Profile of States

Tholpavakkoothu: Kerala

Recently, a shadow leather puppet in Kerala’s famous temple art Tholpavakkoothu has been animated by a robot.

Key facts:

It is a traditional temple art in Kerala having its roots in Palakkad and neighbouring regions. This art is confined largely to Pulavar families from Shoranur region of Palakkad district. Among the ancient artforms of Kerala, tholpavakkoothu or shadow puppet play occupies a prominent place. It is a fine example of the integration of Aryan and Dravidian cultures.

It is a ritual art performed during the annual festivals in the Kaali temples of Palakkad district. It is also known as Nizhalkkoothu and Olakkoothu. The theme of the play is based on the Kamba Ramayana (the Tamil version of the epic).

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Topic: International Events

Exercise TROPEX-21

The biennial Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX 21) which is the largest wargame of the Indian Navy was started in January 2021. The exercise is still underway and it will end in the third week of February 2021.

About TROPEX-2021:

The exercise is observing the participation of all operational units of Indian Navy such as submarines, ships and aircraft. The units of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard are also participating in the biennial exercise. The exercise is being held in the Indian Ocean Region and its adjunct waters.

The exercise is being looked by the Naval Headquarters along with the participation of all three Commands of Indian Navy besides the Tri-Services Command.

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Topic: Discovery of Rare Species

Mandarin Duck spotted after 118 years in Assam

The Mandarin duck which is a colourful duck from eastern Asia was spotted in Assam recently after 118 years.

Key facts:

Spotting of the Mandarin has raised hopes for the wetland which was affected by a blowout and inferno at a natural gas well in the year 2020.

The Mandarin duck was spotted by the team of avian specialists in the Maguri-Motapung Beel of Tinsukia district in eastern Assam.

Mandarin duck is the habitat of eastern China and southern Japan. It landed in Assam too by accident.

The duck does not come regularly to India. But some of the ducks may join other migratory birds and follow their migration path.

The spotted duck accompanied a flock of Indian spot-billed duck that was migrated either to China or Japan. The last Mandarin duck was spotted in Assam in the year 1902.

Mandarin duck:

The scientific name of mandarin duck is Aix galericulata. It is a perching duck species which is native to the East Palearctic. The duck is medium-sized with 41–49 cm in length and 65–75 cm of wingspan. The duck is closely related to North American wood duck.

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Topic: Profile of States

‘Iconic National Flag’ at Gulmarg

The Indian Army has laid the foundation stone of the tallest ‘Iconic National Flag’ at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. The flag will be on a 100 feet-high pole.

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Topic: Awards and Honours

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021

Robert Irwin, an Australian wildlife photographer, has won the first prize in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award Contest. Robert won the award for the image titled ‘bushfire’. It is the picture of the devastating Australian Bushfire in 2020.

He captured using a drone, near the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland of Australia. The image shows a line of fire burning in between the bushes, dividing it into parts.

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Topic: Historical Diary of Events

Dickinsonia: Earliest Known Living Animal

Recently, researchers have discovered three fossils of the earliest known living animal, the 550-million-year-old ‘Dickinsonia’ on the roof of the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters.

Key facts:

It was believed that sponges were the oldest living organism however there is currently no evidence that sponge-like animals conquered the oceans before 540 million years ago, when the first unambiguous fossils of sponges and most other groups of animals start to appear in the geological record.

The earliest evidence for animals on Earth is now the 558 million-years-old Dickinsonia and other Ediacaran animals.

About Dickinsonia:

In September 2018, an international team of researchers claimed to have discovered the world’s oldest fossil of Dickinsonia, which first appeared around 571 million to 541 million years ago. Current fossil evidence dates back around 100 million years from Dickinsonia.

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Topic: Profile of States

Nesting of Olive Ridley begins

The mass nesting of the Olive Ridley turtles has finally began in Puducherry coastline. Though, the traditional migration season of the turtles has delayed possibly due to climate change or change in the climatic conditions because of the influence of Cyclones Nivar and Burevi. Now, the female Olive Ridley turtles are leaving hundreds of eggs at nesting spots. So far, the team has collected over 4,000 eggs.

Key Facts: Puducherry coastline is among the migratory route to Odisha which are used by these turtles. The coastline is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Arjun MBT MK-1A

Recently, the Prime Minister of India has handed over the indigenously developed Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) MK-1A to the Indian Army.

Key facts:

The Arjun MBT Project was initiated by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1972 with the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) as its lead laboratory.

Objective: To create a “state-of-the-art tank with superior fire power, high mobility, and excellent protection”.

Features of the Arjun Tank:

The Arjun MBT is equipped with an indigenously developed 120mm main rifled gun with Fin Stabilised Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) ammunition.

FSAPDS is capable of destroying all known tank armour up to direct shooting range.

It also has a computer-controlled integrated fire control system with stabilised sighting that works in all lighting conditions. The secondary weapons include a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun for anti-personnel and a 12.7-mm machine gun for anti-aircraft and ground targets.

Mk1A and MkII:

The development of Arjun Mk1 was followed by improved variants – Mk1A and MkII.

Arjun Mk1A, which features improved firepower and transmission systems, completed the final integration tests in 2019 and was cleared for production.

The Arjun MkII variant is a light-weight Futuristic Main Battle Tank (FMBT) with electro-optical sensors and high-power lasers.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Technolgy

What is Sandes?

The National Informatics Centre has launched an instant messaging platform called Sandes on the lines of WhatsApp.

Like WhatsApp, the new NIC platform can be used for all kinds of communications by anyone with a mobile number or email id.

The limitation, however, is that the app does not allow the user to change their email id or registered phone number. The user will have to re-register as a new user in case they wish to change their registered email id or phone number on the app.

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Topic: Persons in News

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala: First Woman to lead WTO

The Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has been appointed as the head of the World Trade Organization. She has become the first woman to take this position. She has also become the first African to hold this charge amid rising protectionism.

Key facts:

Okonjo-Iweala was named as the director-general by the representatives of the 164 member countries of WTO. The WTO is the organisation dealing with the rules of trade between the nations on the basis of negotiated agreements.

The appointment of the African women came after the US President Joe Biden approved her candidacy. The appointment will come into effect on March 1, 2021.

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Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Privatisation of PSBs: Govt to bring Two Amendments

The government will bring about amendments in the two acts in order to facilitate the privatisation of public sector banks (PSBs).

Key Facts:

Amendments will be made in the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980. These two acts had facilitated for the nationalisation of banks in two phases. Now, in order to privatise the PSU Banks, provisions of these acts have to be changed.

Background:

The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced about the privatisation of PSBs, while presenting Union Budget 2021-22. PSBs will be privatised as a disinvestment drive in order to generate Rs 1.75 lakh crore. Three banks including the IDBI banks will be privatised as per the announcement.

Recent Merger of Banks:

The government had also merged 10 public sector banks into four in the year 2020. Thus, the total number of PSBs came down to 12 from 27.

Under the plan, the United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce were merged with the Punjab National Bank (PNB). This made PNB the second largest PSB.

Further, the Syndicate Bank was merged with Canara Bank.

Allahabad Bank was merged under the Indian Bank.

Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank were merged with the Union Bank of India.

In 2019, the Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank were merged with the Bank of Baroda.

In April 2017, SBI had merged five of its associate banks namely, the State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

Banking Companies (Acquisition and transfer of undertakings) Act, 1970:

This act deals with the merger of banks. It provides for the acquisition and transfer of undertakings of certain banks with respect to their size, coverage, resources, and organization so as to control heights of the economy.

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Topic: Profile of States

Hyderabad: Tree City of the World

Hyderabad city (Telangana’s Capital) has been recognised as a ‘2020 Tree City of the World’ by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Hyderabad has earned recognition in the Foundation’s second year of the programme along with 51 other cities in the world (during 2020 & cumulative 120 cities from 63 countries).

Most of the cities were from countries – USA, UK, Canada, Australia etc. It is the only City in India to get this recognition so far.

Tree Cities of the World Programme:

It is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated.

At the 2018 World Forum on Urban Forests in Mantova, Italy, world leaders issued the Mantova Green Cities Challenge and a call-for-action that included joining the Tree Cities of the World programme.

The programme intends to connect cities around the world in a new network dedicated to sharing and adopting the most successful approaches to managing community trees and forests.

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Topic: International Events

India- Indonesia Navies conduct PASSEX exercise

The Indian and the Indonesian navies held the PASSEX military exercise in the Arabian sea on February 18, 2021. This military exercise was organised in order to enhance the operational interoperability and the overall cooperation.