TNPSC Current Affairs June 08, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs June 08, 2020 (08/06/2020)

 

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Topic: Terms in News, Latest Diary of Events

Social Bubbles

Many countries have started gradually lifting restrictions even as the number of cases of the infection continues to rise. One of the ways of effective social distancing strategies to keep the Covid-19 curve flat suggested by experts include the idea of social bubbles.

What are social bubbles?

The idea is based on New Zealand’s model of household “bubbles”, an exclusive social group that is allowed to meet with each other amid the pandemic.

A bubble is referred to as an individual’s household or the people that one lives with. People may be allowed to extend their bubbles slightly to include caregivers or children who might be in shared care.

These people don’t need to live in the same household but must be local.

New Zealand followed this approach during the lockdown and allowed the expansion of the bubbles as transmission slowed and restrictions eased.

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Topic: Latest Reports and Events

Environmental performance index

12th edition of the biennial Environment Performance Index (EPI Index 2020) has been released.

About the index:

The index ranks 180 countries on 32 performance indicators across 11 categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality.

The index is a method of quantifying and numerically marking the environmental performance of a state’s policies.

This index was developed from the Pilot Environmental Performance Index, first published in 2002, and designed to supplement the environmental targets set forth in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Performance of India:

India secured 168th rank. The country scored 27.6 out of 100 in the 2020 index.

India scored below the regional average score on all five key parameters on environmental health, including air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals and waste management.

It has also scored below the regional average on parameters related to biodiversity and ecosystem services too.

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Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Assam gas leak

Since the morning of May 27, natural gas has been continuously flowing out of a gas well in Assam following a blowout — or a sudden, uncontrolled release of gas/oil.

This happened after the blowout at the Oil India Limited’s (OIL) Baghjan gas well in Assam’s Tinsukia district.

People from surrounding villages have been evacuated, while a variety of fish and an endangered Gangetic dolphin have died.

Leakage: The current discharge is at 90,000 SCMD at a pressure of 4,200 PSI, far higher than the normal producing pressure of around 2,700 PSI.

Why do blowouts happen?

The pressure balance in a well may be disturbed leading to ‘kicks’ or changes in pressure. If these are not controlled in time, the ‘kicks’ can turn into a sudden blowout.

There are many possible reasons behind blowouts, “from simple lack of attention, poor workmanship, bad maintenance, old age, sabotage to morpho-tectonic factors”.

Why is it so difficult to control?

The control of a blowout depends on two things: the size of the reservoir and the pressure at which the gas/oil is flowing out. This reservoir was particularly difficult to control since it was a gas well and ran the risk of catching fire at any point.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

Deccan Queen (Train)

It runs between Mumbai and Pune. ts birthday was celebrated on June 1st. It began operations on 1st June 1930.

This train holds many a record, including that of being India’s first superfast train, first long-distance electric-hauled train, first vestibuled train, the first train to have a ‘women-only’ car, and the first train to feature a dining car.

It was started by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR), the forerunner of the Central Railway. This was the first deluxe train introduced to serve the two important cities of the region, and was named after Pune – also known as the “Queen of Deccan’’ (“Dakkhan ki Rani’’ in Hindi).

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

World Oceans Day

This day is celebrated on June 8, 2020 with theme of “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.”

The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Health

Coro-bot- World’s first ‘Internet-controlled’ robot

World’s first Internet controlled robot was created in thane from India.

Engineer from Thane has made a first-of-its kind ‘Internet-controlled’ robot specifically to address the needs of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

About robot:

The gizmo, aptly called ‘Coro-bot’ independently dispenses food, water, beverages, medicines – and even some good advice – to Corona patients without the needs for nurses, ward staff or other care-givers.

It eliminates the need of physical presence or contact of nurses or ward boys with the patient. Designed and created by Pratik Tirodkar, founder of a start-up PNT Solutions, Dombivali.

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Topic: Awards and Honors, Persons in News

Javed Akhtar: First Indian to receive Richard Dawkins Award

Javed Akhtar has become the first Indian to receive the Richard Dawkins award.

Key facts:

Javed Akhtar is a renowned lyricist in the Indian film industry. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1999. He has also won the Sahitya Akademi award and Padma Bhushan.

Richard Dawkins Award:

The award is presented by the Atheist Alliance of America (an NGO). The awards are presented to those distinguished individuals that come from the world of scholarship, science, education or environment and proclaim values of rationalism, secularism upholding scientific truth.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events, General Administration

Mission Sagar

The Indian Naval Ship Kesari reached Port Victoria in Seychelles to provide COVID-19 related medicines under Mission Sagar.

The Mission Sagar was launched by the Indian Navy to provide COVID-19 related essential medicines. The Government of India under the mission is providing assistance to foreign countries in dealing with COVID-19.

As a part of the initiative, essentials were to be supplied to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles.

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Topic: Profile of States, Current Socio-Economic Issues

India’s first Online Waste Exchange launched

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the first online waste exchange programme. The programme was launched for safe disposal of toxic wastes and promote recycling and reuse of toxic wastes.

The online waste exchange programme was launched on the occasion of World Environment day. The platform is to track, audit, scrutinize the waste and encourage proper utilization of the waste.