TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS (03.04.2024)

Supreme Court judgement clarifies the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) powers regarding summoning individuals for information:
Broad Summons Powers § ED can summon “any person” for information during an investigation or proceeding under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
This means they can call upon anyone, including government officials like District Collectors, for questioning or to produce relevant records
Compulsory Appearance: The summoned individual is obligated to attend in person, although they can also send authorised agents
Respecting Court Orders: The court emphasized the importance of respecting summons and appearing before the ED as directed. Failure to do so, as in the case of the District Collectors, was considered disrespectful to the court and the law

2. India, Mozambique, and Tanzania Conclude Trilateral Naval Exercise IMT TRILAT 24:

IMT TRILAT 24 concluded in Nacala, Mozambique, on March 28, 2024. Aim: To enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability between India, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujata participated in joint exercises, training sessions, and collaborative activities to exchange knowledge, capabilities, and bolster maritime security in the region.
Two phases: Harbour Phase and Sea Phase. The ships participated in joint operations with Mozambique Naval ship Namatili and Tanzanian naval ship Fatundu, showcasing synergy and sustained efforts with regional navies.
The closing ceremony at Nacala, Mozambique, featured representatives from all three navies, highlighting successful collaboration. The exercise also included official and training exchanges, cross-deck visits, sport fixtures, and Yoga sessions. The ships were open to visitors at Zanzibar, Maputo, and Nacala, attracting more than 1,500 people.

3. Romania and Bulgaria Partially Join Schengen Area:

Romania and Bulgaria have partially joined the Schengen Area, Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone, marking a significant step in their integration with the European Union (EU).
The European Commission has stated that Romania and Bulgaria meet the technical criteria for full accession. Both countries have agreed to implement random security screening at airports and maritime borders to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime.
The lifting of border controls is expected to facilitate operations at Bulgaria’s four international airports (11 million passengers in 2023). The members of the European Parliament have expressed concerns about long queues at the EU’s land borders, the impact on trade in the bloc’s single market, and the health and safety of drivers.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Bulgaria’s interior minister Kalin Stoyanov have affirmed their commitment to deterring illegal migrants from taking the road to Europe through Bulgaria.

4. Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024:

The Environment Ministry of India has introduced new rules to make it harder for manufacturers of disposable plastic products to label them as ‘biodegradable’.
The updated Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, require biodegradable plastics to degrade through biological processes in specific environments and leave no microplastics behind.
Biodegradable plastics are treated before sale and are expected to decompose naturally over time when discarded. However, the rules do not specify which chemical tests can be used to establish the absence of microplastics or to what extent microplastics must be reduced in a sample to be considered eliminated.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) refuses to provide a ‘provisional certificate’ to license products as biodegradable, leaving manufacturers in limbo.

5. HEAT WAVES

Heatwave is a period of abnormally high temperatures
Heatwave Definition: The IMD defines a heatwave based on high temperatures exceeding normal limits, potentially reaching 47°C
Official Declaration: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has specific criteria to declare a heatwave
This typically involves maximum temperatures exceeding: § 40°C (104°F) in plains -30°C (86°F) in hilly regions
Temperature Departure: The maximum temperature must be several degrees above normal (around 4.5-6.4°C). Extreme Heat: In extreme cases, the IMD might declare a heatwave based on absolute temperatures: 45°C (113°F) or higher for a heatwave
47°C (116.6°F) or higher for a severe heatwave
Wet Bulb Temperature: This metric indicates the effectiveness of sweating to cool the body
When it exceeds 30-35°C, even without a heatwave, health risks are high
Power Demand Strain – This heatwave coincides with falling hydroelectricity output, putting pressure on the power grid as dependence on coal increases
This is despite India’s commitment to reduce emissions under the Paris Agreement
El Niño’s Influence: While the El Niño event (causing weak rainfall and heat) weakens, its lingering effects and high sea surface temperatures contribute to the heatwave
Impact on Humans: Qualitatively, a heatwave can also be defined as temperatures that become dangerous to human health, causing heat stress or even death

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