TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENGLSIH) – 31.03.2025

SUBJECT: NATIONAL

3Cs
Centralization: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes central control.
Union Government’s track record shows increased centralization in education.
Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) not convened since 2019.
Commercialization: Rising prevalence of private schools and coaching centers.
NEP 2020 allows private schools to operate with minimal oversight.
High fees in private schools exclude the poor (e.g., 89,441 private schools charge high fees).
Communalization: Textbooks revised to align with certain ideologies (e.g., Mughal history removed).
Leadership positions in educational institutions filled with ideologically aligned individuals.
Impact: Rising costs of education exclude the poor.
Quality of education compromised due to ideological biases.
SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) funds underutilized by states.

2. CENTRIFUGE : GETTING TO THE GOOD URANIUM

SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY

Extracts uranium-235 (U-235) from natural uranium for nuclear power and weapons.
Natural uranium: 99.3% U-238, 0.7% U-235.
Nuclear reactors need 3-20% U-235; weapons need ~90% U-235.
Process: Uranium converted to uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) gas.
Gas spun in a centrifuge at 50,000 revolutions per minute. Centrifugal force separates denser U-238 from U-235.
Multiple stages increase U-235 concentration

3. WHY THE PARKER SOLAR PROBE IS TRYING TO TOUCH THE SUN

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Launched on August 12, 2018, on a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral. On March 22, 2024, the probe made its closest approach to the sun at6 million km.
Maximum speed: 692,000 km/hr; will spend 2,000 hours in the corona.
Objective: Study the sun’s outer atmosphere (corona)to understand:
Source of energy for solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Causes of solar storms that trigger auroras and damage the ozone layer.
Dynamics of solar wind (charged particles) and their impact on Earth.
Timeline: Closest approach on December 24, 2024 (most foreboding).
Will make another approach on March 22, 2025, and again later in 2025.
Challenges
Corona temperature: 300,000°C; probe’s heat shield withstands 1,400°C.
Solar wind speed: 2.34 million km/hr; probe must withstand this force.

4. KERALA BRINGS OUT PLAN FOR YOUTH AND CHILD WELFARE

SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a strategic, multi layered plan for the mental and physical well-being of children and youth.
Objective: Counter rising trends in substance abuse and aggression among children and youth.
Draft Action Plan:Prepared by Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan.
Short-Term Goals(up to 12 months): Emergency interventions for mental health.
Strengthen legal frameworks and law enforcement.
Enhance coordination and evaluation of government schemes.
Medium-Term Goals(7 months to 2 years): Reduce all forms of violence, especially sexual abuse.
Ensure school safety and promote accountability.
Extend support systems to grassroots (e.g., panchayats).
Provide effective care for children subjected to violence.
Mitigate risk factors to enhance child safety

5. WHAT IS STATUS OF THE SPACEX MARS MISSION

SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Elon Musk announced on March 15 that an uncrewed Mars landing mission will take place by the end of next year.
Mission Details: Expected to feature the Optimus robot developed by Tesla.
Human landings planned for 2029, with Musk as a passenger.
Starship rocket to be used (successful Falcon 9landing on Earth).
Challenges: Multiple setbacks in recent months (e.g., test flight failures).
Refueling in space remains untested.
Starship’s second stage must travel 5.5 crore kilometers in 26 months.
High failure rate in test flights (e.g., “rapid unscheduled disassemblies”).
NASA Concerns: Potential conflict of interest due to Musk’s role as a government adviser and SpaceX CEO.
SpaceX’s contracts with NASA raise concerns about impartiality.
Progress: SpaceX has demonstrated reusable rocket technology and rapid production capabilities.