TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19.2.2024 – Plover Minds Institute LLP

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), in December 2023
UIDAI asked all agencies that use Aadhaar to authenticate identities to delete Aadhaar from the list of acceptable documents for verifying a person’s date of birth
Now, Aadhaar cards come with a prominent disclaimer that they are “a proof of identity, not of citizenship or date of birth”
UIDAI is likely to issue a clarification soon
That those relying on the ID proof for age may do so after undertaking a “risk-based assessment”
This is to avoid inconvenience to the public and beneficiaries of government schemes To quell a sense of anxiety about the recent directive to cease the usage of Aadhaar as a proof of ‘date of birth’

2. Army upgrades firepower in eastern Arunachal near LAC

After strengthening defences as well as firepower in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh
The Army has now beefed up its combat potential along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the rest of the State
With the induction of its entire range of arsenal, from the latest firearms to M777 ultra light howitzers
The CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters have become a “game changer” in terms of their ability to lift heavy loads, including the M777s, and reach remote posts that are air maintained
All seven valleys have been connected with Chinook-specific helipads to ensure aerial connectivity
The Indian Air Force operates 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters
Procured from Boeing through the Foreign Military Sales programme of the U.S. government under a deal in September 2015
Talks are on for procuring seven additional Chinooks
A range of new generation equipment and tactical drones have been inducted
For augmentation and upgrading of communication infrastructure
This includes – Satellite terminals for remote and forward areas.Man portable communication terminals for smooth and seamless communication to forward areas

3. Coal Miners abducted from Arunachal Assam boundary

Suspected extremists abducted at least three coal miners from the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam boundary
The incident happened in Phinbiro, a village straddling the inter-State boundary
While the authorities in Assam’s Tinsukia district said the miners two from Arunachal and one from Assam were abducted from across the border, their counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district claimed otherwise
Locals, however, said a seven-member group of extremists belonging to at least two outfits took 10 miners at gunpoint toward the India-Myanmar border through Changlang

4. IPCC’s Assenssement report

Three reports from the IPCC’s sixth assessment cycle (AR6) were published in 2021-2022
These documents examine the consequences, adaptation, and vulnerability as well as the mitigation aspects of climate change
These reports have substantiated the fact that — the planet is warming and that humans bear primary responsibility
The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) warned that the time to limit the rise of the world’s average surface temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius from the pre-industrial era as agreed in the Paris Agreement is running out and that we are close to breaching adaptation limits
To assess the world’s progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC countries conduct a ‘global stocktake’ (GST) every five years
The GST is a mechanism to measure collective progress, identify gaps, and chart a better course of climate action

5. India wants Isreal to be mindful of Gaza Civilian death

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussions
Strategies to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, which is crucial for maritime security and economic stability in the region
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, emphasising the strategic ties between the U.S. and India
There are complaints from exporters about Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking vessels in the Red Sea
Leading to an increase in shipment time and costs
Including a several-fold rise in costs to Europe and the U.S. East Coast
The Indian Navy has deployments in the Gulf of Aden and the western Arabian Sea as a response to these threats
Although India is not part of the U.S.-led task force in the region
Jaishankar and Blinken discussed broader efforts to bring lasting peace and security to the Middle East broader Indo-Pacific strategy
Human rights
Climate change
Upholding established international order

6.The GSLV-F14 carrying INSAT-3D meteorological satellite was successfully launched on February 17 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota

The INSAT-3DS satellite is a follow-on mission of the third generation meteorological satellite from geostationary orbit
The INSAT-3DS satellite will augment meteorological services along with the presently operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR in-orbit satellites
Primary objectives of the mission are – To monitor Earth’s surface
Carry out oceanic observations and its environment in various spectral channels of meteorological importance
Provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the atmosphere Provide data collection and dissemination capabilities from data collection platforms Provide satellite-aided search and rescue services
The GSLV or geosynchronous launch vehicle was termed the “naughty boy” of Indian space due to its repeated failures in the past
Following Saturday’s successful launch, GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS Mission Director Tommy Joseph said that the GSLV had become a “disciplined boy”

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Cochin International Airport in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

2. Indian Spin Bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has created a history by becoming the Second Indian Bowler to take 500 wickets in Test Cricket

TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19.2.2024