TNPSC CURRENT AFFFAIRS (ENGSLIH) – 17.04.2025

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT

Olive Ridley turtle (ID: 03233) tagged by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on March 18, 2021, at Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha.
Found nesting in Ratnagiri’s Guhagar beach, Maharashtra, in early 2024; laid 125 eggs, 107 hatched.
Travelled 4,500 km: Gahirmatha (Odisha) → Jaffna (Sri Lanka) → Thiruvananthapuram → Ratnagiri (Maharashtra).
First recorded Olive Ridley tagged on east coast (Odisha) nesting on west coast (Maharashtra).
Route via Pamban corridor (Rameswaram to Tamil Nadu mainland).
Tagging: Tagged with two metal flipper tags by ZSI (2021); Flipper tags used (cost-effective); satellite tags not used.
Gahirmatha (Odisha): Major nesting site for Olive Ridleys; 12,000 turtles nest annually.
64 turtles tagged in Odisha (2021–2024); Ratnagiri emerging as a west coast nesting site.
Monitored by Maharashtra Forest Dept., Konkan coast, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

2. MONSOON ANTICIPATION

SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY

‘Above normal’ monsoon rainfall(5% above 87 cm average) expected for June September 2025.
Follows 8% above-normal rains in 2024; second consecutive year of good monsoon.
Absence of El Niño(linked to weak monsoons in 6/10 years).
Below-normal Eurasian snow cover(Jan–Mar 2025) has an inverse relationship with monsoon rainfall.
Benefits kharif sowing, grain stocks, and pulse production(govt to procure at MSP to reduce imports).
Cyclonic activity in Bay of Bengal/Arabian Sea will influence outcomes

3. INDIA, CHINA MOVE TO RESTART KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA

SUBJECT: BILATERAL

Indian and Chinese officials are negotiating to resume the Yatra, with a potential breakthrough expected soon.
Discussions focus on infrastructure checks and logistical arrangements.
Ministry of External Affairs meeting scheduled for April 21 to coordinate agencies.
New transport arrangements from Dharchula to Lipulekh Pass to reduce 80-100 km trek.
Yatra traditionally held June–September.
Computerized lottery for pilgrims typically set up in early May.
Discussed by S. Jaishankar and Wang Yi at G-20 Summit (Nov 2024, Brazil).
Costs for Yatra to rise due to revised accommodation and transport rates.

4. DEFINITION OF WOMAN IS BASED ON BIOLOGICAL SEX: UK COURT

SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES

U.K. Supreme Court(unanimous): “Woman” and “sex” in Equality Act 2010refer to biological sex.
Outcome of 6-year battle between For Women Scotland (FWS) and Scottish government.
FWS challenged inclusion of transwomen in “woman” for public board representation.
Scottish guidance (Gender Recognition Certificate defines “woman”) ruled incorrect.
Victory for biological sex-based gender definition; blow to trans rights.
Trans people protected under “gender reassignment” but not acquired gender.
Likely impacts hospitals, sports, shelters across U.K.

5. SHAPING A RESPONSE TO THE U.S RECIPROCAL TARIFFS

SUBJECT: ECONOMY

Trump announced reciprocal tariffs: existing commodity-wise tariffs + additional country-wise tariffs (e.g., 26% for India).
Tariffs paused for 90 days(except China); floor rate of 10% for unlisted countries.
Exemptions: steel, autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, energy, etc.
Formula: U.S. discounted tariff rate = (-1) * (1/2) * (U.S. exports –U.S. imports) / U.S. imports.
India’s tariff: 26%(based on 2024 trade: $41.8B exports, $87.4B imports).
India’s U.S. exports low and declining; impact moderate but affects electrical machinery, gems, machinery, textiles.
Competitors (China, Vietnam, etc.) face higher tariffs; South Korea at 25%.
Avoid retaliatory tariffs(China’s 125% led to U.S. escalation to 145–245%).
Increase U.S. imports(e.g., $25B in petroleum) to reduce tariff rate to 11.8%.
Negotiate comprehensive trade deal with U.S.
Monitor dumping by affected countries like China.