TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENGLISH) – 20.01.2025

SUBJECT: ECONOMY

Issue: Decline in private sector investments by 1.4% (Q2-Q3 FY25).
Government Action: Capital expenditure (CapEx) by states increased, raising total fresh investments by 9.9%.
Sector Trends: Electricity projects witnessed 21.9% growth.
Sectors like mining, irrigation, and pharma saw contraction.
State Performance: Rajasthan emerged as the leader in fresh investments, overtaking Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Impact:Reflects economic slowdown, inflation concerns, and hesitancy in private investment

2. A SURGE IN RADICAL GOVERNMENTS THE HOPE OF DEMOCRACY

SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL

The rise of radical Islamic governments in regions like Afghanistan (2021), Syria (2024), and potentially Bangladesh is reshaping geopolitics.
This trend highlights how power shifts lead to global responses varying from legitimization to indifference.
Afghanistan: The Taliban seized power in 2021, leading to U.S. withdrawal and$7.1 billion worth of U.S. weaponry left behind.
Despite the Taliban’s actions (restricting women’s rights and governance failures), global powers legitimized their rule.
Syria: In 2024,Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), previously linked to Al Qaeda, toppled the Syrian government.
The U.S. removed the bounty on HTS leader Abu Muhammad al Jolani, raising concerns over supporting extremist groups.
Bangladesh: A military coup in 2024 replaced Sheikh Hasina’s government with an interim military-led regime, allegedly to lerating Islamic radical groups.
Groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Ansarullah Bangla Team have gained ground, attacking minorities and adopting anti-India rhetoric

3. HOW IS TRAI AND THE GOVT COMBATING SPAM?

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Regulates the telecom industry with a focus on UCC.
Introduced the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) registry in 2007, allowing customers to opt out of spam calls and messages.
Mandated all telecom providers in 2024 to include DND reporting features in their apps for user convenience.
Blockchain Technology: Utilized to ensure traceability of spam messages.
Telecom operators must maintain a blockchain ledger of approved senders and message formats to ensure traceability.
Blockchain offers immutability, ensuring every transaction is securely recorded.
Regulations were tightened in 2024 to address vulnerabilities, ensuring only legitimate entities can register and send messages
Partnership with law enforcement to track fraudulent activities.
Sanchar Saathi Portal: Includes the Chakshu reporting site for suspected fraudulent calls.
Collaborates with banks and law enforcement to blacklist unauthorized telemarketers.
Telecom Security Operation Centre: Monitors suspicious internet traffic in real-time to detect and block fraudulent activities.

4. NINE NAVIES HOLD JOINT DRILLS IN STRATEGIC STRAITS BETWEEN INDIAN OCEAN AND THE PACIFIC

SUBJECT: BILATERAL

Event: Multilateral exercise “La Perouse”
Location: Straits of Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok(Indian & Pacific Oceans).
Participating Nations: India, Australia, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, U.K., U.S., Canada.
Objective: Strengthening maritime safety and interoperability.
Significance: Focus on countering China’s activities in the region, addressing risks like drug trafficking, tsunamis, and illegal immigration.

5. WHAT DID THE ILO REPORT STATE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS?

SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL

The ILO’s fourth edition of ‘Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers’ highlights the contribution of international migrants (IMs)to economic growth, labour market shortages, and remittances.
Statistics: Ims constitute 4.7%of the global workforce.
Higher proportion of males(61.3% employed vs. 38.7% females).
Sectors: 68.4%of IMs were in the services sector, especially healthcare.
Host Countries: High-income nations absorb the majority (68.4% or 114 million).
Regional data: Europe:23.3%of IM workers in 2022.
North America:22.6%, showing a slight decline over the decade.
Arab states:13.3%, down from 2013 due to reduced demand