16th JANUARY 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas
- An agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas to end the war that has been going on in Gaza for more than 15 months.
- Accordingly, it has been announced that the ceasefire will come into effect from the 19th. The conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023. Hamas, which entered Israel and attacked, took many hostages.
- In retaliation, the Israeli army carried out attacks targeting Hamas in Gaza. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to end this conflict that has claimed many lives and caused heavy material damage.
- While various rounds of negotiations were underway, a final agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire. The 15-month-long war is coming to an end as both sides have agreed to exchange Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages held by Israel.
- The Ministry of Defence has signed a deal with Bharat Dynamics Limited for the supply of medium-range surface-to-air missiles to the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 2,960 crore. The deal was signed in New Delhi on Thursday, January 16, in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh.
- The project envisages the installation of missiles on several Indian naval ships. The deal is seen as a major milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to enhance its defence capabilities and indigenise advanced military technology.
- Docking is the process of connecting two separate vehicles or satellites in space. This docking mission is a very complex and difficult task. Only the United States, Russia and China have done such a task so far.
- To join that list, India's ISRO has developed the Spadex Docking Mission. Accordingly, on December 30, 2024, two satellites, SDX01(Chaser) and SDX02(Target), were successfully launched into space by the PSLV C60 rocket.
- While this docking mission was supposed to take place a few days ago, the mission was stopped at the last minute due to some technical reasons. The two satellites were brought 3 meters apart and then moved back to a safe distance.
- In this situation, ISRO has successfully completed the docking mission today (16.01.24) and has issued an announcement to this effect. ISRO has posted that the 2 satellites have been successfully connected and this is a historic moment.
- Prime Minister Mr. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the setting up of a third launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- The third launch pad project will create a launch pad structure for the next generation launch vehicles of the Space Research Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh and will also act as a standby support launch pad for the second launch pad in Sriharikota.
- It will also enhance the payload capacity for future Indian human space missions. The project is of national importance.
- The government has decided to set up the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries and allowances of central government employees and pensioners. It has been announced that the chairman and two members of the commission will be appointed soon.
- There are 49 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners. They will benefit directly and indirectly from this.
