TNPSC Current Affairs August 17, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs August 17, 2020 (17/08/2020)

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Topic: General Administration, Political Systems in India

Minimum Age of Marriage for Girls

The Prime Minister, during his address to the nation on the 74th Independence Day, announced that the central government has set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women, which is currently 18.

About the Committee:

On 2nd June 2020, the Union Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a committee to examine matters pertaining to age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering Maternal Mortality Ratio and the improvement of nutritional levels among women.

The Committee is headed by Jaya Jaitely. The Committee was proposed in the Union Budget 2020-21.

It will examine the correlation of age of marriage and motherhood with health, medical well-being, and nutritional status of the mother and neonate, infant or child, during pregnancy, birth and thereafter.

It will also look at key parameters like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR), Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and Child Sex Ratio (CSR), and will examine the possibility of increasing the age of marriage for women from the present 18 years to 21 years.

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Topic: International Events, Places in News

Oil Spill in Mauritius

A japanese bulk-carrier ship MV Wakashio which was carrying fuel oil has split into two parts near Blue Bay Marine Park in south-east Mauritius. The ship was already leaking and has caused an oil spill of over 1000 tonnes in the Indian Ocean.

Key facts:

The vessel has broken near Pointe d’esny in Mauritius and the area has many environmentally sensitive zones.

The oil spill threatens the ecology of the coastline of Mauritius and the marine life in the Indian Ocean. It endangers the already endangered coral reefs, seagrasses in the shallow waters, mangroves, the fishes and other aquatic fauna.

Some key wildlife at risk include: Giant tortoises, endangered green turtle, and the critically endangered Pink Pigeon.

The pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) is a species of pigeon, endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius. It has been listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Navroz: Parsi New Year

Navroj was celebrated in India on 16th August 2020. Globally Navroz is celebrated on 21st March, however, in India it is celebrated on 16th August because of the Shahenshahi calendar that is followed by Parsis in India.

The Shahenshahi calendar doesn’t account for leap years.

Key Facts:

Navroz is also known as Parsi New Year. In Persian, ‘Nav’ stands for new, and ‘Roz’ stands for the day, which literally translates to ‘new day’.

It is celebrated to mark the beginning of the Iranian (Persian) calendar. The tradition is observed by Iranians and the Parsi community around the world.

In India Navroz is also known as Jamshed-i-Navroz, after the Persian King, Jamshed. The king Jamshed is credited with having created the Shahenshahi calendar.

Navroj is inscribed in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events, Places in News

World Tallest Pier Bridge in Manipur

The Indian Railways is constructing world’s tallest pier bridge in the state of Manipur. The bridge is 141 metres high. It has surpassed the record of 139 metres tall Mala-Rijeka bridge in Montenegro, Europe.

The total length of the bridge is 703 metres. The piers that will hold the bridge are to be constructed with hydraulic augers. The “Slip Form Technique” has been used to construct the bridge.

Highway Projects in India:

The Government of India is in the path of developing the North East in every possible way. Several road and railway line projects, inland water way projects are being launched to boost trade and connectivity in the region.

On August 17, 2020, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stone for 13 highway projects in Manipur. The projects were of worth Rs 3,000 crores.

The projects will construct 316 km of highways in the state. The projects will help boost Act East Policy of India.

 

Topic: Profile of States

New GI Tags to Goa

Goa’s Harmal Chillies, Moira bananas & Khaje gets Geographical Indications (GI) from the Geographical Indications Registry.

Harmal Chillies are grown only in Harmal village and adjacent areas of Pernem taluka- specifically in the coastal village of Arambol.

Moira bananas are unique bananas grown in Moira village of Bardez taluka & Bicholim Taluka.

Khaje, the traditional state sweet is an integral part of the Hindu jatras and Catholic feasts held in the state.