TNPSC Current Affairs July 21, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 21, 2020 (21/07/2020)

Topic: Books and Authors

‘A Song of India’ – Book

It is authored by Ruskin Bond. This book will mark the 70th year of the author’s literary career.

In ‘A Song of India’, Ruskin Bond tells the story of his 16-year-old self and how he was struggling to begin his writing journey before he became a successful author.

Topic: Profile of States

Zoram Mega Food Park: Mizoram

Recently, the government has operationalized the first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Mizoram i.e. Zoram Mega Food Park. It has been set up under the ‘Mega Food Park Scheme’.

Zoram MFP:

It is located in Khamrang village in Kolasib District, Mizoram. It is not only expected to benefit the people of Mizoram but also that of adjoining districts in Assam.

Assam already has a MFP in its Nalbari district- North East Mega Food Park. It will boost the North-East Region’s potential to become the organic destination of the world due to its rich agricultural and horticultural produce.

Sikkim has already been declared as an organic state.

Topic: India and its Foreign Relations

PASSEX with the U.S.A

Recently, Indian Naval ships conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the U.S. Navy’s USS Nimitz carrier strike group near the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

A passage exercise is normally undertaken whenever an opportunity arises, in contrast to pre-planned maritime drills.

Recently, the Indian Navy had also conducted similar PASSEXs with the Japanese Navy and the French Navy.

PASSEX:

Four frontline Indian naval ships which included INS Shivalik, INS Sahyadri, INS Kamorta and INS Rana, teamed up with carrier USS Nimitz and three other U.S. ships to conduct the exercise.

USS Nimitz is the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier.

Aim: To improve the cooperation between the U.S. and Indian maritime forces and to maximize training and interoperability, which also include air defence.

Topic: General Administration, Latest Diary of Events

Mine Ploughs on T-90 Tanks

Recently, the Ministry of Defence has signed Rs. 557 crore contract with the BEML Limited (formerly known as the Bharat Earth Movers Limited) for the procurement of 1,512 mine ploughs for T-90 Tanks.

The induction is expected to be completed by 2027.

T-90 Tanks:

These Russian-origin tanks are the Indian Army’s main battle tanks. Indian Army recently deployed them in the Galwan Valley sector of Ladakh amid the face-off with Chinese troops.

Mine Ploughs:

Mine ploughs help tanks to clear minefields and minimize risks to men and machines. After being fitted on T-90 Tanks, they will facilitate individual mobility to the tanks while negotiating a minefield.

Advantages:

The mobility of the tank fleet will enhance manifolds which in turn would extend the reach of the armoured formations deep into enemy territory without becoming a mine casualty.

The decision is expected to boost the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

As per the procedure, the contract has Buy and Make (Indian) categorisation with a minimum of 50% indigenous content in the Make portion.

Topic: Eminent Persons in News

C.S. Seshadri

Eminent mathematician Professor CS Seshadri, known for his contributions in algebraic geometry and mathematical education passed away recently.

Key Facts:

He was born in 1932 in Kanchipuram and educated in Chennai, TN and Mumbai (he got his PhD from Bombay University in 1958).

He joined Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), where he helped establish a school of algebraic geometry.

He is known for his work on algebraic geometry.

Applications of algebraic geometry arise in statistics, control theory, robotics, coding theory, integer programming and theoretical physics.

The Narasimhan-Seshadri theorem, developed in 1965 with his friend M S Narasimhan, plays a central role in conformal field theory and string theory.

He founded the Chennai Mathematical Institute, which attracts talent from around the world with its courses on mathematics, computer science and theoretical physics.

He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) in 1988 and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, USA in 2010. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan (the third highest civilian award in India) in 2009.