TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14.5.2024

1. SAHYADRI

• The Western Ghats, aka the Sahyadri, is a mountain range that runs along the western coast of India
• It is known for its rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes, including numerous stunning waterfalls
• Here are some of the most notable waterfalls in the Western Ghats:
• Jog Falls-Located in Karnataka, Jog Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in India, formed by the Sharavathi River
• Dudhsagar Falls-Situated on the Goa-Karnataka border, Dudhsagar Falls is a four-tiered waterfall on the Mandovi River
• Athirappilly Falls-Located in Kerala, Athirappilly Falls is often referred to as the “Niagara of India.”It is fed by Chalakudy River
• Thoseghar Waterfalls-Situated near Satara in Maharashtra, it is a series of waterfalls with some falls as high as 200 meters.
• Shivanasamudra Falls -Is a majestic waterfall in Karnataka, formed by the Kaveri River. It is also the location of one of the first hydroelectric power stations in Asia set up in the early 1900s.
• Iruppu Falls-Located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, the Iruppu Falls are a part of the Brahmagiri Range.

2. PANEL FLAGS POOR PROGRESS IN REVERSING COAL MINING DAMAGE IN MEGHALAYA

• The High Court appointed Justice Katakey in April 2022to recommend measures to the Meghalaya government
• In compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• NGT had banned the hazardous rat-hole coal miningin April 2014
• The one-member panel flagged the lack of progress in restoring the environment damaged by rat-hole coal miningin the northeastern State of Meghalaya
• In its 22nd interim report – The panel underlined the non-utilisation of the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF)
• The panel said necessary steps need to be taken by the departments concerned for restoring the mining-affected ecology of Meghalaya with ₹400 crore in the MEPRF and another ₹100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board
• Issues —  The people living in areas around the mines continue to suffer due to continued acid mine drainagefrom the mine pits that have not been closed yet
• Rat-hole mininginvolves digging small tunnels large enough for a person to crawl through to extract coal

3. SICKLE CELL PATIENTS IN RURAL UNGANDA

• Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders in which red blood cells become hard, sticky and crescent shaped
• The misshapen cells clog the flow of blood, which can lead to excruciating pain, organ damage and other complications
• Social issue – Frequent community deathsfrom disease complications reinforce perceptions of it as a scourge
• Some men divorce their wiveswhen they learn that their children have sickle cell disease

4. DIGILOCKER

• DigiLocker is a digital platform initiated by the Indian government in 2015 under theDigital India campaign
• It allows users to securely store and access digital copiesof their documents in a cloud-based system
• This service aims to facilitatepaperless governanceand is recognised for having legal equivalency to original physical documents for verification purposes
• Key Features of DigiLocker
• Document Storage:Users can store essential documents like educational certificates, PAN cards, Aadhaar, driving licenses, etc.
• Issued Documents:Directly receive digital documents from government agencies and other registered issuers.
• Security:Employs 2048-bit RSA encryption, SSL encryption, and multi-factor authentication.
• Accessibility and Shareability:Access documents from anywhere and share them with registered requester agencies. Real-time Verification:Enables requester agencies to verify documents instantly, streamlining various administrative processes.
• Notification Services:Alerts users about the expiry of important documents like driving licenses and vehicle registration.

5. LEGAL SERVICE AUTHORITY

• Child marriageis defined as a formal marriage or informal union before age 18
• It poses significant challenges to the health, education, and well-being of millions of children, particularly girls
• As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21)
• The number of women aged 20-24 years and married before 18 years in Rajasthan is 25.4%
• Against the national average of 23.3% The Indian government and various state governments have undertaken numerous measures to curb the practice of child marriage:
• Legal Framework: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006sets the legal age of marriage at 21 for males and 18 for females and provides for punitive measures against those who perform, permit, or promote child marriages
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012also helps protect minors from abuse, which is a common aspect of child marriages
• Programmatic Interventions: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao(Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) Campaign aims at changing societal attitudes, increasing enrollment of girls in schools, and reducing dropouts
• Balika Samriddhi Yojanaand Sukanya Samriddhi Yojanaare schemes aimed at encouraging families to educate their daughters by providing financial incentives
• Awareness and Education Campaigns: ○ Campaigns and programs to raise awarenessabout the rights of children and the disadvantages of child marriage are regularly conducted at the community level. ○ Collaboration with NGOslike the Gayatri Seva Sansthan, which actively works to prevent child marriages and supports victims.
• Monitoring and Vigilance: During festivals like Akshaya Tritiya, which culturally see a high number of child marriages, increased vigilance and preventive measures are adopted
• Authorities are on a strict vigil on ‘Akha Teej’this year to ensure that no child faces the fate of child marriage
• Child Welfare Committees, as part of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), play a crucial role in the surveillance and action against child marriages
• Rehabilitation and Support – Victims of child marriage often require extensive support to overcome the trauma and disruptions caused by early marriage
• Government and NGO interventions focus on:
• Legal aid to annul marriages
• Psychological counselling
• Educational opportunities
• Vocational training to provide skills for livelihood
• Financial compensation and social reintegration programs
• The combined effort of legal measures, educational programs, community involvement, and vigilant enforcement is essential to effectively combat child marriage and support its victims

ONE LINER

1. India leases Iran’s Sabakar port for 10 years – signing of agreement between India and Iran.
2. Tamil Nadu’s Shyamnikil became the 85^th Grandmaster from the Dubai Police Masters Chess Tournament