Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs December 2019 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY The Best Coaching Center in Coimbatore NVN Layout, New Siddhapudur, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Ph: 0422 4204182, 98842 67599 ******************************************************************************************* STATE AFFAIRS ISRO‟S SECOND SPACEPORT AT KULASEKARAPATTINAM (TN): The ISRO has commenced land acquisition for its second launchpad in Kulasekarapattinam, a town in the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district of Tamil Nadu. ISRO‟S SPACEPORT ISRO‘s first and only spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), is located in Sriharikota, about 100 km north of Chennai, in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The organisation launches its PSLV and GSLV rockets from here. The SDSC, setup in 1971, currently has two active launchpads. Its first launchpad was decommissioned once the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle programme ended in 1994. The first of the two active pads mostly services the PSLV and the second, the GSLV, and which ISRO is currently modifying to accommodate crewed vehicle missions as part of its upcoming human spaceflight project, Gaganyaan. The second spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam is expected to provide an important advantage to ISRO‘s upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), a smaller counterpart of the PSLV. KAVALAN - SOS MOBILE APP: The Kavalan – SOS app was launched as part of the Tamil Nadu State Police Master Control Room initiative. People of Tamil Nadu can use to seek police assistance instantly in emergency situations such as physical emergencies, eve teasing, kidnapping or natural disasters such as floods, earthquake, etc. People residing in Tamil Nadu, especially, Women & elderly people can use the Kavalan – SOS app whenever they feel vulnerable or threatened. TAMIL NADU GOT 13 AWARDS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT: The Tamil Nadu rural development department received 13 awards from the Centre for effective implementation of rural development schemes. The state received awards in the category of state, district, panchayat union and village panchayats in programmes like MGNREGA, National Rurban Mission and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana. 04224204182,9884267599, NVN layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 1 Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs December 2019 The rural development department received 31 national awards this fiscal. The local body elections in Tamil Nadu was held on 27th and 30th December. LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS These elections are conducted by Tamil Nadu State Election Commission under M.Palanisamy. Last election was on October, 2011. At present, out of 37 districts, only elections for rural local bodies in 27 districts was held. Elections will not be held for rural local bodies in the nine districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi. The rural voters in the state will elect four members. It was a direct Election for Village Panchayat Ward Members, Village Panchayat President, Panchayat Union Ward Members and District Panchayat Ward Members. Urban local bodies include 15 Municipal corporations, 148 Municipalities and 561 Town panchayats. Rural local bodies include 12,524 Village Panchayats, 388 Panchayat Unions, and 33 District Councils of India/District Panchayats. NATIONAL AFFAIRS OPERATION „CLEAN ART‟ TO CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL TRADE IN MONGOOSE HAIR: Recently, there has been a widespread crackdown on factories making paint brushes with mongoose hair across the country. It was the first pan India operation to crackdown on the smuggling of mongoose hair in the country. It was conceived by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) with the singular aim of ensuring that the mongoose hair brush trade should be closed down across the country. KEY POINTS. Brushes made of mongoose hair are preferred because they are superior and hold colour better. Mongoose is listed in Schedule II Part 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and any smuggling or possession of its body part is a non-bailable offence. IUCN RED LIST STATUS- LEAST CONCERNED. All six species are listed on CITES Appendix III with a zero quota for commercial trade. There are six species of mongoose found in India- Indian grey mongoose, Small Indian mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Crab-eating mongoose, Stripe-necked mongoose and Brown mongoose. The Indian grey mongoose is the most commonly found species and also the most hunted. 04224204182,9884267599, NVN layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 2 Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs December 2019 NATIONAL STARTUP AWARDS 2020: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has announced institution of the first ever National Startup Awards. The National Startup Awards seek to recognize outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers that are building innovative solutions and scalable enterprises, with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation, demonstrating measurable social impact. The awards for startups will be given in 35 areas, classified into 12 broad sectors like agriculture, education, enterprise technology, energy, finance, food, health, Industry 4.0, space, security, tourism, and urban services. In addition, there are three special awards for startups from educational institutions, making impact in rural areas and women entrepreneurs. A cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each will be awarded to the winning startup in each area. A cash prize of Rs 15 lakh each will be awarded to one winning Incubator and one winning Accelerator as well. The applications for the awards are open till 31st December 2019. INDIA MAKES ENTIRE HAJJ 2020 PROCESS DIGITAL: The first country to make the entire process for Haj pilgrims completely digital is India. A bilateral agreement was signed between our Minority Affairs Minister Mr. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and the Saudi Haj and Umrah Minister Mr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten. With this agreement, India has become the first country to make the entire process for pilgrims going on Haj completely digital. This will be implemented from the next Haj trip from 2020. It is for the first time when digital pre-tagging has been arranged by the airlines so that Haj pilgrims will get all kinds of information in India itself. Available facilities: An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, ―e-MASIHA‖ health facility, ―e- luggage pre-tagging‖. E-MASIHA: Health status and medical history of visiting pilgrims is being stored at online ―e-MASIHA‖ (Medical Assistance System for Indian Hajis Abroad). E-MASIHA would retrieve pilgrims‘ health information to apply appropriate treatment whenever he or she visits Indian medical facilities during Haj. INAS 314 - “RAPTORS”: Indian Naval Air Squadron 314, the sixth Dornier aircraft squadron was commissioned at Naval Air Enclave- Porbandar on Gujarat coast. The INAS 314 derives its name Raptors from the Bird of Prey family. The insignia of the squadron depicts a Raptor bird searching over the vast blue expanse of the sea. 04224204182,9884267599, NVN layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 3 Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs December 2019 Raptors are large birds of prey known for excellent sensory capabilities, powerful and sharp talons and strong wings symbolizing the capabilities of the aircraft and envisaged roles of the squadron. This squadron will operate the Dornier aircraft, a multi-role SRMR aircraft, with twin turboprop engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, Kanpur. Navy is procuring 12 new Dornier aircraft from HAL with state-of-the-art sensors and equipment including glass cockpit, advanced surveillance radar, optical sensors and networking features. YUWAAH YOUTH SKILLING INITIATIVE: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched the ‗YuWaah‘ Generation Unlimited in India on November 1, 2019. KEY POINTS Generation Unlimited (GenU), called YuWaah in India, is a global multisector and multi-stakeholder alliance created to meet the need of expanded education, skill development and employment opportunities for young people aged 10-24. It brings together partners from government, multilateral organizations, civil society, the private sector and young people from around the world. The target age group of YuWaah includes adolescent girls and boys and its key mission is to promote access to foundational, transferable and 21st-century skills for youth inside and outside formal education systems. YuWaah intends to create platforms to guide youth to market opportunities (career guidance, mentorship, internships, apprenticeships) and facilitate the integration of career guidance in school education. ALL INDIA POLICE SCIENCE CONGRESS ORGANISED IN LUCKNOW: The 47th All India Police Science Congress (AIPSC) was organised from 28-29 November 2019, at Police Headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The chief guest for event was former cop and current Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi. Top officials from police, security and investigation agencies from every Indian state participated in 47th All India Police Science Congress. More than 120 teams participated from all states and Union Territories (UTs). Apart from police, central agencies such as CBI, CRPF and BSF also participated. The event was organised by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D). Uttar Pradesh is hosting this annual event after 22 years. The Congress focused on challenges in policing, and 5 other related topics which are need of the hour. INDIA CORRUPTION SURVEY 2019: As