TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10.09.2024

1. BILATERAL

RAJNATH VISITS U.S SUBMARINE TESTING FACILITY AS INDIA EYES SIMILAR CENTRE

• India-U.S. Defence Cooperation
• Visit to William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC):
• Facility Overview: The LCC is one of the world’s largest and most advanced water tunnel facilities used for testing submarines, torpedoes, naval surface ships, and propellers.
• Objective: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit aims to understand the facility’s operations as India plans to establish a similar facility for indigenous design and development.
• Undersea Domain Awareness:
• Importance: With China’s expanding maritime presence in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific, undersea domain awareness has become a critical focus for India and the Quad (India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.).
• Quad Initiative: The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) aims to create a comprehensive system for monitoring and securing maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific.
• Security of Supply Agreement (SoSA):
• Objective: To provide reciprocal priority support for goods and services that promote national defence, ensuring long-term supply chain stability.
• Background: Initiated during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin to India in June 2023.
• Impact: This agreement will help both countries acquire industrial resources from one another to resolve supply chain disruptions and meet national security needs.
• Combined Maritime Forces (CMF):
• Indian Participation: India will deploy Navy personnel in CMF’s Combined Task Force 150 headquarters in 2025.
• Objective: Enhance maritime domain awareness and security in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Deployment of Liaison Officers:
• Agreement: A memorandum of agreement was signed for deploying Indian military liaison officers at key U.S. military commands.
• First Deployment: India will deploy its first liaison officer to the Headquarters Special Operations Command in Florida, U.S.

2. POLITY

WHAT DID THE 2013 PANEL SAY ON DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE?

• The Justice Verma Committee had specifically said it was not inclined to recommend the death penalty for rape even for the rarest of rare cases.
• The committee pointed out that “there is considerable evidence that the deterrent effect of death penalty on serious crimes is actually a myth.”
• The Verma Committee recommended that the exception to marital rape be removed, pointing out that “a marital or other relationship between the perpetrator or victim is not a valid defence against the crimes of rape or sexual violation.”
• The Verma Committee endorsed the idea that a rapist remains a rapist regardless of his relationship with the victim.
• The Union government did not go by this recommendation and refused to criminalise marital rape.

3. INTERNATIONAL

ATTACKING HEZBOLLAH, ISRAEL FIGHTER JETS BOMB LEBANON

• The Israel-Hezbollah conflict is deeply rooted in the broader Arab-Israeli conflict and has evolved over several decades.
• Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political party based in Lebanon, emerged as a significant player in the region’s geopolitics, particularly in its opposition to Israel.
• Ideological Differences: Hezbollah’s Ideology: Hezbollah’s ideology is rooted in Shiite Islamism and resistance to Israel, influenced by the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
• Israel’s Security Concerns: Israel views Hezbollah as a significant security threat due to its militant activities and its alignment with Iran.
• Regional Dynamics: Iran’s Role: Iran’s support for Hezbollah is part of its broader strategy to project influence in the Middle East and counter Israeli and Western interests.
• Syrian Influence: Syria has historically supported Hezbollah as part of its regional strategy, although its role has fluctuated due to internal and external pressures.

4. BILATERAL

WITH HUNDREDS STRANDED IN SAO PAULO, INDIA TO BROACH TOPIC WITH BRAZIL MINISTER

• Brazil’s New Regulations: On August 22, Brazil’s Justice Ministry announced new restrictions on travelers from certain Asian countries, including India, China, Nepal, and Vietnam.
• These restrictions, effective from August 26, 2024, are aimed at preventing these travelers from staying in Brazil.
• The measure targets individuals believed to be part of a growing trend of illegal immigrants who land in Brazil, request asylum, and then take the land route to the Mexican border to cross into the U.S. and Canada.
• Rise in Asylum Seekers: According to the U.S. Justice Department, the number of asylum applications from Indians in Brazil has increased significantly, growing from 69 in 2013 to 4,239 in 2023.
• This represents a 61-fold increase over a decade
• India-Brazil Relations
• The situation raises significant humanitarian concerns, particularly regarding the treatment and rights of the stranded individuals.
• India is likely to raise these concerns with Brazil to ensure the well-being and fair treatment of its nationals.
• While the issue poses a challenge, it also provides an opportunity for both countries to strengthen their cooperation on immigration and asylum policies.
• Effective resolution of this issue could enhance mutual trust and collaboration.
• The rise in asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants is a global issue, reflecting broader trends in migration and displacement.
• India and Brazil, as part of international forums like the G-20, can work together to address these challenges at a global level.

5. ENVIRONMENT

KERALA GOVERNMENT TO HOLD POST DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN WAYANAD

• Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is a systematic process used to assess the damage and losses caused by a disaster.
• It aims to evaluate the impact on various sectors and estimate the financial requirements for recovery and reconstruction.
• The PDNA process involves multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, and local communities.
• Objectives of PDNA
• Damage Assessment: To quantify the physical damage to infrastructure, housing, agriculture, and other sectors.
• Loss Assessment: To estimate the economic losses resulting from the disaster, including loss of income, increased costs, and other economic impacts.
• Recovery Strategy: To develop a comprehensive strategy for recovery and reconstruction, including prioritization of actions and resource allocation.
• Financial Estimation: To estimate the financial costs required for recovery and reconstruction efforts.
• In the context of Wayanad, the PDNA will focus on the landslide-affected areas in the Meppadi grama panchayat.
• The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) will conduct a week-long assessment to gather data on the damage and losses.
• The findings will be compiled into a detailed report and submitted to the NDMA.
• It will then forward it to the Union Home Ministry for consideration of financial assistance.

ONE LINER

1. The World Bank has forecast a growth of 7% for the Indian economy for the current fiscal year
2. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given its final approval for Pres Vu eye drops developed to affected by Presbyopia