TNPSC Current Affairs July 25, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 25, 2020 (25/07/2020)

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Topic: Political System in India

Governors of States in India

President of India has appointed Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh to discharge the functions of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, in addition to her own duties.

Governors of States in India:

A governor is a nominal head of a state, unlike the Chief Minister who is the real head of a state in India.

According to 7th Constitutional Amendment Act 1956, the same person can be the Governor of two or more states.

The governors and lieutenant-governors are appointed by the president.

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Topic: Current Socio-Economic Issues

African Swine Fever (ASF)

The porcine industry in Assam suffered major losses during the COVID-19 lockdown, which was followed by an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) that has killed more than 17,000 pigs in Assam and over 4,500 in Arunachal Pradesh.

The current outbreak of ASF in India is the first time that the disease has been reported in the country.

Affected countries:

As per the latest update issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the current outbreak of ASF has affected China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Republic of Korea and Indonesia among others.

About African Swine Fever (ASF):

ASF is a highly contagious and fatal animal disease that infects domestic and wild pigs, typically resulting in an acute form of hemorrhagic fever.

It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.

The mortality is close to 100 per cent, and since the fever has no cure, the only way to stop it spreading is by culling the animals.

ASF is not a threat to human beings since it only spreads from animals to other animals.

According to the FAO, “its extremely high potential for transboundary spread has placed all the countries in the region in danger and has raised the spectre of ASF once more escaping from Africa. It is a disease of growing strategic importance for global food security and household income”.

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Topic: India and its Neighboring Countries

Currency Swap Arrangement (CSA)

The Reserve Bank of India has agreed to a $400 million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka till November 2022.

What is this Currency Swap Arrangement (CSA)?

An arrangement between two friendly countries to involve in trading in their own local currencies.

As per the arrangements, both countries pay for import and export trade at the pre-determined rates of exchange, without bringing in third country currency like the US Dollar.

In such arrangements no third country currency is involved, thereby eliminating the need to worry about exchange variations.

Significance of the agreement:

Improves the confidence in the Indian market.

Enables the agreed amount of capital being available to India.

Bring down the cost of capital for Indian entities while accessing the foreign capital market.

Aids in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital markets in India.

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Topic: Latest inventions on Science and Technology

Tianwen-1

On July 22, China launched its Mars mission. Known as Tianwen-1, the mission name is loosely translated to “questions to Heaven.”

Key facts:

China’s first Mars probe is called Tianwen-1 (formerly Huoxing 1). The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. Launched on a Long March 5 rocket from Xichang, China.

Landing site: Somewhere in Utopia Planitia, a vast plain in Mars’ northern latitudes and the same place NASA’s Viking 2 mission landed in the 1970s.

Tianwen-1 will reach the Red Planet’s orbit in February 2021. The rover will land on Mars in May.

If the mission is successful, China will become the third country to achieve a Mars landing after the USSR and the United States.

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Topic: Species in News

Pied Cuckoo to be Tracked

Recently, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has decided to study the migration of the Pied Cuckoo Bird (Jacobin Cuckoo or Chaatak), by tagging the bird with satellite transmitters.

The study will be conducted along with the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) and the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology.

IIRS is a constituent unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is headquartered in Dehradun.

Pied Cuckoo:

It is a bird with black and white plumage (pied) with a fancy crest on the head. Its scientific name is Clamator jacobinus. It is found in Africa and Asia. There are two types of pied cuckoos found in India.