TNPSC Current Affairs 2017 March 9 for Group 1 & Group 2 Mains(All)

TNPSC Current Affairs March 2017

1.Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders' Summit 2017 held in Jakarta 

The First ever Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leader’s summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The theme of this year’s conference is “Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean”.

This was the 20^th anniversary of  the Association. Vice-President Hamid Ansari has attended the conference from India.

About the Outcome:

Indian Ocean Rim Association leaders has signed in IORA Concord for vision of IORA, focussing particular on Cooperation among the IORA member States on Maritime Safety and Security.

The other outcome is Declaration on preventing violdent Extrem ism and Countering Terrorism

The last was for the Action plan of IORA for the next Five years.

About IORA:

IORA is formerly known as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). It is an international organization which consists of countries bordering Indian Ocean.

Its objective to promote sustainable and balanced growth, and focused on the area which provide maximum opportunities for development. It also promote economic co-operation, bringing together inter-alia representatives of Member States, businesses, academia and also social development of the region.           

IORA(Indian Ocean Rim Association) has 21 member states, including Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen.

2. INS Tillanchang, Fast-Attack Craft (WJFAC) commissioned in Indian Navy .

.INS Tillanchang is a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) was commissioned in Indian Navy by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra. It will be based in Karwar, Karnataka.

About INS Tillanchang:

• INS Tillanchang is indigenously designed and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineer, Kolkata. It is an upgrade from the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft of the Indian Navy Possesses.
•  It is Third of the four ships of its WJFAC Class kind built by GRSE, the other 2 ships of the class were Tarmugli and Tihayu which was commissioned in 2016 and based at Vishakhapatnam.
• This is the fastest among all WJFAC built. It is about 50 m long and powered with 3 water jets, which gives speed of 35 knots and above.
•  It is armed with 30 mm Main Gun and light, medium and heavy machine guns. It is manned with 50 Personnel.
•  It helps in coastal and off-shore surveillance, exclusive economic zone control, law enforcement . Also non-military missions such as search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief 

3. India launched the second stage of its plan to phase out Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

India launched the second stage of its plan to phase out Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), greenhouse gases by switching over to non-ozone depleting and low global warming potential technologies.

India Successfully completed the first phase of HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMPs), between 2012-2015 for phasing out of HCFC’s in consumption sector. 

It has achieved reduction of 10 Per cent of using HCFCs and complete phase out of HCFCs by 2030.

Background:

• Montreal Protocol is an international Agreement, which is ratified by 197 countries to gradually eliminate production and consumption of Ozone Depleting substances (ODS) to limit the damage of Ozone Layer.
• It also aims at phase out HCFCs by 2030. India ratified it on 1992. It has been recognized as the most successful international Environmental treaty
• The treaty has led to phase out globally the production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) such as Hydro chlorofluorocarbans (HCFCs), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and Halons.
• The Montreal protocol has not only resulted in protecting ozone layer but also helps in significant reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions.

HFCs Effect and Kigali Agreement:

• HFCs (Hydro fluorocarbons) has been introduced in place of ODCs and worked as an alternative for Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),HCFCs 
• HFCs are now used in Air conditioner and Refrigerators. HFCs doesn’t deplete Ozone layer but it is noticed that it possess great greenhouse gas effect and contribute to global warming. It is about 12,000 times more than CO2(Carbondioxide), CH4(Methane). 
• To reduce the production and consumption of HFCs, World countries came together and adopted an agreement to phase down HFCs.
• 197 countries were ratified the Agreement to limit Global Warming on October 15 2016, in Kigali , Rwanda.
• AS per the agreement, countries have to cut down the production and consumption of HFCs by 80% by next 30 years. 
• As per the Agreement Developed nation will reduce consumption from 2019 and the developing countries will freeze consumption by 2024 and other countries with unique circumstances will freeze in 2028.
• India will will Freeze it in 2028