TNPSC Current Affairs January 01, 2021

Topic: General Administration, Profile of States

Protecting the Sentinelese

Recently, the Anthropological Survey of India (ANSI) policy document warned of threat to the Sentinelese from commercial activity. The policy document comes almost two years after American national John Allen Chau was allegedly killed by the Sentinelese on the North Sentinel Island.

ANSI Guidelines:

Any exploitation of the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans for commercial and strategic gain would be dangerous for its occupants, the Sentinelese.

The Right of the people to the island is non-negotiable, unassailable and uninfringeable. The prime duty of the state is to protect these rights as eternal and sacrosanct.

Their island should not be eyed for any commercial or strategic gain.

The document also calls for building a knowledge bank on the Sentinelese.

Since ‘on-the-spot study’ is not possible for the tribal community, anthropologists suggest the ‘study of a culture from distance’.

About the Sentinelese:

The Sentinelese are a pre-neolithic, negrito tribe who live in North Sentinel Island of the Andamans. They are completely isolated with no contact to the outside world. The first time they were contacted by a team of Indian anthropologists in 1991.

Due to no contact, the census of Sentinelese is taken through photographing the island individuals from distance.

It has a population of about 50 to 100 on the North Sentinel Island.

Surveys of North Sentinel Island have not found any evidence of agriculture. Instead, the community seems to be hunter-gatherers, getting food through fishing, hunting, and collecting wild plants living on the island.

Sentinelese are also listed under Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) by the government of India. The other four PVTGs of the islands are Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Shompens.

They are protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956.

It declares traditional areas occupied by the tribes as reserves and prohibits entry of all except those with authorization.

Photographing or filming tribe members is also an offense.

Way Forward:

The academics have suggested that the best path forward is a policy of “controlled contact” with these communities instead of a policy of no contact.

Carefully managed contact to avoid the spread of disease, but also enable the building of trust and providing aid and medical help if needed is the best way.

Establishing contact with the outside world can also help governments to document their way of life, preserve their culture and their holistic development.

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Topic: General Administration

Boost to Defence Exports

The Union Cabinet has recently approved export of the Akash surface-to-air missile to “friendly countries” and constituted a committee, headed by the Defence Minister, for faster approval of export of defence platforms.

This committee would authorise subsequent export of major indigenous platforms to various countries.

Key facts:

The export version of Akash will be different from the system currently deployed with the Indian armed forces. The Cabinet approval will facilitate Indian manufactures to participate in RFI/RFP issued by various countries.

A request for information (RFI) is used when the owner wants several contractors to provide potential solutions, while a request for proposal (RFP) is used in a bidding process to solicit offers for a project.

So far, Indian defence exports included parts/components etc. The export of big platforms was minimal.

This initiative of the Cabinet would help the country improve its defence products and make them globally competitive. It would be a significant step under Atma Nirbhar Bharat,

Besides Akash, there is interest in other major platforms like the coastal surveillance system, radars and air platforms.

Akash Missile:

Akash is India’s first indigenously produced medium range Surface to Air missile that can engage multiple targets from multiple directions.

The all-weather missile can engage targets at a speed 2.5 times more than the speed of sound and can detect and destroy targets flying at low, medium and high altitudes. The missile system is designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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Topic: Historical Diary of Events, Profile of States

Revival of Monpa Handmade Paper

Recently, the Monpa Handmade Paper (1000-year old heritage art) of Arunachal Pradesh has been revived by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Key facts:

About Monpa Handmade Paper:

The fine-textured handmade paper, which is called Mon Shugu in the local dialect, is integral to the vibrant culture of the local tribes in Tawang. The paper has great historic and religious significance as it is the paper used for writing Buddhist scriptures and hymns in monasteries.

The Monpa handmade paper is made from the bark of a local tree called Shugu Sheng, which has medicinal values too.

Monpa Handmade Paper Industry:

The art of making Monpa handmade paper originated over 1000 years ago. Gradually the art became an integral part of local custom and culture in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Once produced in every household in Tawang, this handmade paper was a major source of livelihood for the locals.

The handmade paper industry almost disappeared in the last 100 years.

Revival Program:

An attempt for the revival of this handmade paper industry was made in 1994 but failed. KVIC commissioned a Monpa handmade paper making unit in Tawang which not only aimed at reviving the art but also engaging the local youths with this art professionally and earn. The revival is aligned with the Prime Ministers Mantra of Vocal for Local.

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Topics: Latest Reports and Events

Why lightning still kills so many Indians?

Lightning strikes have caused 1,771 deaths between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

How can deaths be minimized?

Every lightning strikes around a fixed period and almost similar geographical locations in similar patterns. As per CROPC (Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council), early lightning warning to farmers, cattle grazers, children and people in open areas is the key.

Then a local lightning safety action plan, like installing Lightning Protection Devices, is also need to prevent deaths.

What is the impact of lightning?

The Centre had increased compensation for victims of natural disaster to Rs 4 lakh in 2015.

In the last five years there were 13,994 fatalities, which bring the total compensation to around Rs 359 crore. There have been phenomenal losses of animal life also from lightning strike.

What is lightning?

It is a very rapid — and massive — discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, some of which is directed towards the Earth’s surface. These discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall.

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Topic: International Events

Argentina’s legalisation of abortion

Argentina’s has legalised abortions up to the 14th week of pregnancy. Prior to this, women were forced to turn to illegal and unsafe procedures because abortion was against the law in Argentina. For women from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the scope of access to safe medical procedures for abortion was even narrower.

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Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

SAHAYAK-NG

SAHAYAK-NG is India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container. It is a GPS aided air dropped container with the capacity to carry a payload of up to 50 kg and can be dropped from a heavy aircraft. The successful maiden test was conducted by the DRDO along with the Indian Navy.

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Topic: International Events

Covid-19 in Antarctica

36 people at a Chilean research station in Antarctica have been found infected with the novel coronavirus. This is the first instance of the virus Antarctica.

Antarctica is the last continent to reach Covid 19. The pandemic has finally reached every continent on Earth.

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Topic: Awards and Honours, Persons in News

International Cricket Council (ICC) Award of the Decade

The former Indian Cricket Captain MS Dhoni won this ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade.

He won the award for his decision to call back Ian Bell after the former England batsman was run out in a bizarre manner during a Test match in 2011.

Virat Kohli of India wins the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade.

Ellyse Perry of Australia wins the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade.

Other Awards:

ICC Men’s Test Player of the Decade: Steve Smith (Australia).

ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Decade: Virat Kohli (India).

ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Decade: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

ICC Men’s Associate Player of the Decade: Kyle Coetzer (Scotland)

ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Decade: Ellyse Perry (Australia)

ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Decade: Ellyse Perry (Australia)

ICC Women’s Associate Player of the Decade: Kathryn Bryce (Scotland)