TNPSC Current Affairs February 05, 2021

Topic: International Events

Smart Walls for Borders – USA

Recently, an alternative Smart Wall has been proposed to replace the physical and armed patrolling with advanced surveillance technology at the USA-Mexico border. Earlier in 2019, the USA declared a national emergency to fund construction of a border wall along the USA-Mexico Border citing “invasion” of drugs and criminals from Mexico.

About Smart Wall:

There is no one single definition for this recently-conceived solution, however It is a collection of discrete technologies that work together to prevent illegal entry, smuggling, and all the various threats posed by a porous border.

It uses drones, scanners, and sensors to create a technological barrier too high to climb over, too wide to go around, and too deep to burrow under.

Using Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies like in-ground sensors, security cameras and software solutions, a smart wall could empower border officials with enhanced situational awareness to prevent illicit activity.

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Topic: Welfare Oriented Govt Schemes and their Utilities, Latest Diary of Events

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

Recently, the government’s maternity benefit scheme, or Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), has crossed 1.75 crore eligible women till the financial year 2020. A total sum of Rs. 5,931.95 crore was paid to 1.75 crore eligible beneficiaries between financial year 2018 and 2020.

Key facts:

PMMVY is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017. It is a centrally sponsored scheme being executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme:

Cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.

Target Beneficiaries:

All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM), excluding those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.

All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their pregnancy on or after 1st January 2017 for the first child in the family.

Benefits under the Scheme:

Beneficiaries receive a cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three installments on fulfilling the following conditions:

Early registration of pregnancy

Ante-natal check-up

Registration of the birth of the child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.

The eligible beneficiaries also receive cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). Thus, on an average, a woman gets Rs. 6,000.

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Topic: India and its Neighborhood Countries

Pakistan launched its new surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‘Ghaznavi’

Pakistan successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile called Ghaznavi.The missile was test fired on February 3, 2021.

Key facts:

The ballistic missile has a striking capability of up to 290 kilometres. The Ghaznavi missile was launched to mark the culmination of Annual Field Training Exercise of Army Strategic Forces Command.

The ballistic missile Ghaznavi can deliver the nuclear and conventional warheads up to a range of 290 kilometres. The missile has been tested for both day and night modes.

Pakistan has also test-fired the nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Shaheen-III on January 20, 2021. This missile has the range of up to 2,750 kilometres.

About Ghaznavi Missile:

It is a surface-to-surface short range ballistic missile. The missile has been designed and developed by the National Development Complex. The missile has the range of 290 km.

The missile has been named after the 11th century Muslim Turkic conqueror Mahmud of Ghazni. The missile commissioned into service with the Pakistan Army in the year 2012.

It entered into service after a successful launch by Army Strategic Command Force in 2012. It has a length of 9.64m and 0.99 m is the diameter of the missile.

The launch weight of the missile is 5256 kg. this missile is powered by a single stage solid fuel rocket motor. The design is the missile is influenced from a Chinese design called M-11.

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Topic: International Events

Vaccine Maitri Initiative

This initiative was launched by India. It aims to gift COVID-19 vaccines to neighbouring countries. Recently, Sri Lanka and Bahrain have received the COVID-19 vaccines from India under this initiative.

India has already delivered over 5 million doses to seven countries in the neighbourhood under this initiative. The 7 countries are Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles. Commercial supplies of Covishield have also been sent to Morocco, Brazil and Bangladesh