TNPSC Current Affairs July 13, 2018

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 13, 2018 (13/07/2018)

 

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Topic : New Appointments

Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)

Dr. TCA Raghavan is appointed as the new Director General (DG) of Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).

What is ICWA?

It was established in 1943 by group of Indian intellectuals as think tank. It was established as non-official, non-political and non-profit organisation under Registration of Societies Act 1860.

ICWA is devoted exclusively for the study of international relations and foreign affairs. Vice President of India is its ex-officio President.

It had conducted historic international conferences like Asian Relations Conference in 1947 under leadership Sarojini Naidu and United Nations and New World Order in 1994.

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Topic : India’s Foreign Policy, General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

India pips France to become world’s 6th largest economy

India has now become world’s sixth-largest economy, pushing past France, according to the updated World Bank figures for 2017.

Large economies:

The US remains the world’s largest economy followed by China, Japan, Germany and Britain.

India’s performance:

India is reclaiming its place as a growth leader after a short slowdown. Just in the last decade, India has doubled the size of its economy outpacing that of France.

While India’s GDP has risen by an average 8.3% over the decade, that of France’s actually declined by 0.01%. To add more perspective, in the past 10 years India’s GDP grew by 116.3% while France witnessed a 2.8% decline in GDP.

Certainly, this tells us that India is gaining economic size consistently and is emerging as one of the powerhouses.

Way ahead:

In April earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected India to grow at 7.4% in 2018 and 7.8% in 2019, leaving its nearest rival China behind respectively at 6.6 and 6.4% in the two years.

However, while debating a course correction, India will have to repair its fault lines even as it gains economic muscle.

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Topic : New Inventions on Science and Health, Latest Diary of Events

First-Ever Colour X-Ray On A Human

New Zealand scientists have performed the first-ever 3-D, colour X-ray on a human, using a technique that promises to improve the field of medical diagnostics.

Medipix:

The technique used is known as Medipix. The technology is developed by CERN.

It works like a camera detecting and counting individual sub-atomic particles as they collide with pixels while its shutter is open. This allows for high-resolution, high-contrast pictures.

The machine’s “small pixels and accurate energy resolution meant that this new imaging tool is able to get images that no other imaging tool can achieve.

The images very clearly show the difference between bone, muscle and cartilage, but also the position and size of cancerous tumours, for example.

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Topic : Environment and Ecology, Profile of States

Nilgiri tahr

As per the latest studies, climate change is threatening the Nilgiri tahr. It is estimated that the endangered wild goat could lose approximately 60% of its habitat, starting from the 2030s.

Background:

There are only around 2,500 tahrs left in the wild and their population — “small and isolated, making them vulnerable to local extinction” — shows a “decreasing” trend, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Nilgiri Tahr- Key facts:

IUCN status- It is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India.

It is the State animal of Tamil Nadu.

Currently, the only populations with more than 300 individuals are in Eravikulam National Park and in the Grass Hills in Anamalai.

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Topic: Awards and Honours, Latest Diary of Events

Shri Piyush Goyal gives away awards for beautification of stations premises

The Union Minister of Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal distributed awards to winning stations of Station Beautification competition.

Out of 62 entries, Balharshah & Chandrapur Railway Stations of Central Railway have been awarded the first prize.

Madhubani station of East Central Railway & Madurai station of Southern Railway were the co-winners of the second prize.

Gandhidham station of Western Railway, Kota station of West Central Railway & Secunderabad station of South Central Railway were joint winners of the third prize.

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Topic : Places in News

Shivanasamudra waterfalls

Shivanasamudra is a small city in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, which forms here the boundary to the Chamarajanagar District, and is the location of one of the first hydro-electric power stations in Asia, which was set up in 1902.

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Topic : Profile of States, Places in News, General Administration

Fossil museum in Ariyalur

The fossil museum at Varanavasi near Ariyalur town is almost complete to opening.

The museum, which has come up on 100 acres, showcases the natural formation of cretaceous rocks that provide clear evidence of the existence of dinosaurs and other associated reptilian fossils in the Ariyalur region.

A building, which has provisions to exhibit fossils, rocks and minerals from the Pre-Cambrian period, the Palaeozoic period, the Jurassic period and the Cretaceous period, has been constructed.

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Topic : Places in News, International Events

Museum dedicated to James Bond in Austrian Alps

The first museum dedicated exclusively to fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond has opened on the Austrian Alps.

The futuristic 007 Elements museum is on the summit of Gaislachkogl Mountain at an elevation of 3,048 metres (nearly 10,000 feet).