Important TNPSC Current Affairs March (01-10) 2021

Topic: Latest Diary of Events

PSLV-C51 launch

PSLV-C51 was successfully launched by ISRO recently. This was the 53rd flight of ISRO’s launch vehicle and the first dedicated mission of its commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd. The mission was undertaken under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc., U.S.

Satellites onboard:

It carried 19 satellites (Including Brazil’s optical earth observation satellite, Amazonia-1, and 18 co-passenger satellites — five from India and 13 from the U.S.).

Amazonia-1 is the first fully Brazilian-made satellite, which would help to monitor the Amazon forests. The Amazonia-1 was injected into its precise orbit of 758 km in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.

The satellites from India are:

The Satish Dhawan SAT (SDSAT) built by Space Kidz India. It has an engraving of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the top panel.

A nano-satellite intended to study the radiation levels, space weather and demonstrate long-range communication technologies.

The UNITYsat, a combination of three satellites for providing radio relay services.

Another satellite belonging to the DRDO.

The Bhagavad Gita was also sent on board an SD card to give the scripture, which teaches oneness as the highest form of humanity, the highest honour.

What is PSLV?

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is an indigenously-developed expendable launch system of the ISRO. It comes in the category of medium-lift launchers with a reach up to various orbits, including the Geo Synchronous Transfer Orbit, Lower Earth Orbit, and Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.

All the operations of PSLV are controlled from the Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota.

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Topic: Profile of States

Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission

Around 500 farmers across villages in Doda district in Jammu had their incomes quadrupled after shifting from maize to lavender cultivation which is being called purple revolution. It was possible due to initiatives taken under Aroma Mission.

Key facts:

Purple Revolution (Under Aroma Mission):

First-time farmers were given free lavender saplings and those who have cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.

Aim:

To support domestic aromatic crop based agro economy by moving from imported aromatic oils to homegrown varieties.

Products:

Main product is Lavender oil which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre.

Lavender water, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks.

Hydrosol, which is formed after distillation from the flowers, is used to make soaps and room fresheners.

Main Agencies Involved:

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (IIIM Jammu), the two bodies are mainly responsible for making purple revolution under the Aroma Mission a success.

Significance:

Apart from being in sync with government policy of doubling farm incomes by 2022, lavender cultivation also provided employment to the district’s women farmers thus gave impetus to inclusive growth.

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Topic: International Events

UNGA declares 2023 as “International Year of Millets”

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared the year 2023 as “International Year of Millets”. The resolution to declare the year was sponsored by India. The resolution was adopted by consensus and the support of over 70 nations out of 193.

Key facts:

With the adoption, the day now invites the United Nations, members of the united nations and other world organisations to observe the year through several activities with the objective of raising awareness and directing policy attention regarding the health & other nutritional benefits of using millets.

These activities should also be highlighting the suitability of millets for cultivation even under the adverse climatic conditions.

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Topic: International Events

Exercise Desert Flag-VI: UAE

For the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in the Exercise Desert Flag-VI, hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force.

Ex Desert Flag is an annual multinational large force employment warfare exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force.

Aim: To provide operational exposure to the participating forces while training them to undertake simulated air combat operations in a controlled environment.

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Topic: International Events

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021

12 Indian Institutions have secured positions in top 100 in the QS Subject Rankings for the year 2021.

These are IT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISC Bangalore, IIT Guwahati, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, JNU, Anna University, University of Delhi, and O.P Jindal University.

Amongst these:

IIT Madras has been ranked 30th in the world for Petroleum Engineering,

IIT Bombay has been ranked 41st and IIT Kharagpur has been ranked 44th in the world for Minerals and Mining Engineering,

University of Delhi has been ranked 50th in the world for Development Studies.

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Topic: International Events

Sculpture of Hardit Singh Malik

Recently, England has approved the design for a sculpture of an early 20th century Sikh fighter pilot “Hardit Singh Malik” for a new memorial to be erected in the port city of Southampton.

The memorial is built in memory of all Indians who fought in the World Wars. The memorial will be created by English sculptor Luke Perry.

About Hardit Singh Malik:

Birth: He was born into a Sikh family on 23rd November 1894 in Rawalpindi in West Punjab, pre-partitioned India.

Career: Hardit Singh Malik first arrived in the UK in 1908 as a 14-year-old to Balliol College at the University of Oxford.

He became a member of the Royal Flying Corps during World War I (1914-1918). As the first Indian and turbaned pilot with a specialised helmet, he became famous as the “Flying Sikh”. Malik also played cricket for Sussex and was also the Indian Ambassador to France after a long and distinguished career in the Indian Civil Service.

Death: He died in New Delhi on 31st October 1985.

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Topic: General Administration

MT Swarna Krishna: International Women’s Day

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has flagged off an all-women crew onboard Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessel MT Swarna Krishna.  The initiative is a part of SCI’s ongoing Diamond Jubilee celebrations and also to commemorate the International Women’s Day (8th March). This is the first time in the world maritime history that a cargo ship is being sailed by all women officers.

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Topic: International Events

Bao-dhaan

Assam’s Bao-dhaan is being exported to America now. Iron-rich ‘red rice’ is grown in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam without the use of any chemical fertilizer. This variety of rice is referred to as ‘Bao-dhaan’, which is an integral part of the Assamese food culture.

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Topic: International Events

Exercise Dustlik-2

Recently, the second edition of India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise “Dustlik-2” started in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.

Aim of the Exercise: Counter Insurgency (CI) and Counter Terrorism (CT) operations in mountainous, rural and urban scenarios under the United Nations (UN) mandate.

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Topic: International Events

Virus passport

Virus passport was launched by China.  Basically, it is a health certificate programme for Chinese international travellers. The digital certificate shows a user’s vaccination status and virus test results.

Although the certificate is meant for travel in and out of China, it is currently only available for use by Chinese citizens, and it is not yet mandatory. There is also no indication authorities in other countries will use it when Chinese travellers go abroad.

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Topic: Sports and Events

Wrestler Bajrang Punia regains Top Position

Indian wrestler, Bajrang Punia, has regained the world number one ranking. He gained his ranking after winning second successive gold medal at Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series.

Key facts:

The wrestler defeated Tulga Tumur Ochir of Mongolia by 2-2 criteria in 65 kg the final freestyle event which was organised in Rome on March 7, 2021. He won the event after getting a two-pointer in last 30 seconds of bout. This was the first international competition of Bajrang Punia since the Covid-19 outbreak.

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Topic: General Administration

Third Scorpene submarine INS Karanj commissioned into service

The Indian Navy has inducted into service the third Scorpene-class conventional diesel-electric submarine called INS Karanj on March 10, 2021.

Key facts:

The watercraft called INS Karanj was commissioned by the former Navy Chief, Admiral V.S. Shekhawat. He was the Commanding Officer of previous version of the INS Karanj during 1971 India-Pakistan War.

Background:

INS Karanj is the part of Six Scorpene submarines which are being built under Project-75. It was built by Mazagon Dock Limited which has also taken up the other projects. The submarine was built under technology transfer from the Naval Group of France for which a dollar 3.75 billion deal was signed in October 2005. But the project is delayed by four years because of delay in construction.

Project-75:

Under the project-75, the first submarine of the class called INS Kalvari was commissioned in the month of December, 2017.  The second submarine called INS Khanderi was commissioned in the month of September, 2019. The fourth submarine INS Vela was launched in May, 2019. In the month of November 2020, the fifth submarine called Vagir was commissioned.

INS Karanj:

It is the third submarine of first batch of the six Kalvari-class submarines. This submarine is a diesel-electric attack submarine which is based on Scorpene class. It has been designed by the French naval defence and energy group and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited which is an Indian shipyard. This ship was launched in January 2018 and was delivered to Indian Navy in February 2021.

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Topic: Places in News

Why is Turkey’s Salda Lake called ‘Mars on Earth’?

The scientists are looking for the signs of ancient life on the Red Planet with the help of data gathered by the NASA’s rover Perseverance which is exploring the surface of Mars. Scientists find that the data collected on the mission is much closer to home at the Salda lake located in southwest Turkey.

Key facts:

The American space agency, NASA, stated that the minerals and rock deposits at Salda lake are the nearest match on earth with the deposits on the Jezero Crater where the spacecraft landed. The Jezero Crater is believed to be once flooded with water. The Information which was gathered from Lake Salda would help the scientists to search for the fossilised traces of microbial life which is preserved in the sediment which were deposited around the delta and the long-vanished lake. Scientists are of the view that, these sediments around the lake were eroded from large mounds which are formed with the help of microbes and are called as microbialites.

Lake Salda:

It is a mid-size crater lake which is located in southwestern Turkey. It lies within the boundaries of Yeşilova district in Burdur Province. The lake is located at the distance of about fifty kilometres in the west from Burdur. The lake is included in Turkish Lakes Region which is extended across the inner western to southern Anatolia.  It has the area of 4,370 hectares and a depth of 196 meters.

Jezero crater:

The crater is located on Mars in Syrtis Major quadrangle. The lake is having the diameter of about 49.0 km. This crater is believed to be once flooded with water. It comprises of the fan-delta deposit rich in clays. From a study of the delta and channels, the scientists had concluded that the lake inside crater was formed during the period when there was continuous surface runoff.