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www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs June 23, 2017 (23/06/2017)
Topic : General Administration, Latest Diary of Events
NATGRID can soon access PAN, I-T records
The Centre has empowered the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), the integrated mechanism to keep track of security-related data, to access the Income Tax department’s records on individual taxpayers as well as PAN card holders.
NATGRID and the I-T department could sign a pact soon to operationalise the data sharing arrangement.
What is NATGRID?
NATGRID is an ambitious counter terrorism programme, which will utilise technologies like Big Data and analytics to study and analyse the huge amounts of data from various intelligence and enforcement agencies to help track suspected terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks.
It will connect, in different phases, data providing organisations and users besides developing a legal structure through which information can be accessed by the law enforcement agencies.
Background:
NATGRID is a post Mumbai 26/11 attack measure.
It aims to mitigate a vital deficiency — lack of real time information, which was considered to be one of the major hurdles in detecting US terror suspect David Headley’s movement across the country during his multiple visits between 2006 and 2009.
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Topic : General Administration, India’s Foreign Policy
A law, this time for Antarctica
India is drafting a dedicated Antarctica policy and a law that will likely be tabled in the winter session of Parliament.
Ministry of Earth Sciences will draft the law.
Background:
India, being among the countries that have acceded to the Antarctica Treaty, is expected to have a clear policy on the consequences of its activities in the region.
India is expanding its infrastructure development in Antarctica.
The government is rebuilding its station, Maitri, to make it bigger and last for at least 30 years.
Dakshin Gangotri, the first Indian base established in 1984, has weakened and become just a supply base.
About Antarctic Treaty:
The treaty is framed to ensure “in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord”.
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Topic : Space technology, Latest Diary of Events
Cartosat-2 launched
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has launched the Cartosat-2 series satellite—a dedicated satellite for defence forces—along with 30 co-passenger satellites from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
This is the 40th flight of PSLV and 17th flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (with the use of solid strap-on motors).
Key facts:
The co-passenger satellites include 29 Nano satellites from 14 countries—Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America—besides a nano satellite from India.
About Cartosat-2:
Cartosat-2 is a remote sensing satellite and it is similar in configuration to earlier satellites in the series with the objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery.
Once this satellite becomes operational, it would be handed over to the defence forces, which have their own infrastructure, which includes ground stations, and trained manpower to access data.
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Topic : Latest Diary of Events
Kerala gets its first total yoga village
Kunnamthanam in Kerala, became a complete yoga village with at least one member of each family in the panchayat trained in yoga.
Grama panchayat president K.K. Radhakrishna Kurup had also declared Kunnamthanam as Kerala’s first total yoga village at a public function.
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