TNPSC Current Affairs August 1 2017 for Prelims and Mains.

TNPSC Current Affairs - August , 2017 - TNPSCGURU.IN

1. 19th round of RCEP Meeting, Hyderabad.

The 19th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Negotiating Committee meetings and other related meetings were held in Hyderabad, India,with the ten ASEAN member states and the group’s Free Trade Agreement partners.

About RCEP:

• RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement being negotiated between 10 ASEAN countries and and their Free Trade Agreement partners , Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
• It the negotiation get successful, it would create the world’s largest trading  bloc.
• The trade bloc represents world’s 46 % of population with combined GDP of around $17 trillion and accounts of 40% of world trade.
• It will cover of issues such as trade in goods, services, investment, competition, intellectual property rights, telecommunication and economic and technical cooperation

India’s benefit:

• RCEP will help to achieve India’s aim and objective of look-East policy.
• RCEP is important to India because India is not a member of 2 other major regional economic group APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation) and TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership).
• RCEP will help India’s Trade volume to increase with countries, which India not signed FTA like China, New Zealand, and Australia.
• Once the RCEP get negotiated it can easily access the entire 16 member’s trade bloc and India’s Service sector like IT, telecoms, BPO, KPO, Banking services are likely to get more benefits.

India’s Concern

• Countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand are export powerhouses in Manufactured goods.  Their Cheaper Goods could affect the small producers and workers if safeguard measures are not taken adequately.
• The Main concern is flood of cheaper Chinese goods in Indian markets.Because at present there is no FTA between India and China but signing the RCEP pact is viewed as signing an FTA with China

About Free Trade agreement:

Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is an agreement of cooperation between countries ( 2 or more) to reduce its trade barriers like tariffs etc. It helps to increase trade and services within countries without much obstacles.

        

2.Curcumin in turmeric cures cancer in Children says scientists.

Researchers from Nemours Children’s Hospital and the University of Central Florida found that curcumin, chemical in turmeric can destroy neuroblastoma tumour cells.

Neroblastoma is most common kind of cancer among children aged five or less.

3.Petrapole-Benapole Integrated Check Post.

India and Bangladesh has agreed to operate Petrapole-Benapole ICP 24x7, effect from August 1 2017 to simplifying movement of Cargo across the border. It will help in speedy clearance of cargo and hence it helps in boosting bilateral trade.

4.Indian Army Team Participates in Tank Biathlon 2017 at Alabino range, Russia

Indian Army has participates in Tank Biathlon 2017 at Alabino range, Russia. Tank Baiathlon is an international Army games event.  It was first held in 2013 at Alabino Ranges, Russia. Indian Army has started participating since 2014.

  

5.Swachh Survekshan-2018 has launched.

Government has launched Swachh Survekshan-2018 to rank all the 4,041 cities and towns based on infrastructure development for improved sanitation services and their sustainability, outcomes, citizen connect and visible impact on ground.

 6.Pulitzer award winner Sam Shepard died.

Pulitzer award winner Sam Shepard died at age of 73; he won the Pulitzer award for his play “Buried Child in 1979.

7.GM Crops Cultivation in India.

As per latest Central Government official release, only GM Crop permitted for cultivation is Bt Cotton and GM Mustard and Bt Brinjal have been recommended by GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) to Government for for consideration for environmental release and cultivation.