17th March 2023 Tnpsc Current Affairs in English

1. Which institution launched ‘ATL Sarthi’, a comprehensive self-monitoring framework?

[A] RBI

[B] SEBI

[C] NITI Aayog

[D] BSE

Answer : [C] NITI Aayog

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) – NITI Aayog launched ATL Sarthi, a comprehensive self-monitoring framework to strengthen the ecosystem of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL). As of date, AIM has funded 10,000 schools to establish Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs). The initiative has four pillars ensuring the performance enhancement of ATLs through regular process improvements like a self-reporting dashboard known as ‘MyATL Dashboard’.

2. What is the Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation in India in February 2023?

[A] 7.85%

[B] 6.85%

[C] 5.85%

[D] 3.85%

Answer : [D] 3.85%

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation declined to a 25-month low of 3.85 per cent in February 2023. This is the ninth straight month of decline in WPI-based inflation. As per the government data, the decline is due to the easing prices of manufactured items and fuel and power. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had hiked key interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.50 per cent, saying core inflation still remains sticky.

3. The pilot trial of MD15 buses and Prototype launch of M100 (100% Methanol) was launched in which city?

[A] Chennai

[B] Bengaluru

[C] Hyderabad

[D] Pune

Answer : [B] Bengaluru

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, unveiled the pilot trial of MD15 buses and Prototype launch of M100 (100% Methanol). MD15 stands for diesel with 15 percent methanol buses. The project was carried out in partnership with BMTC, NITI Aayog, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Ashok Leyland.

4. As of 2023, banks from how many countries were permitted by the Reserve Bank of India to trade in rupees?

[A] 12

[B] 15

[C] 18

[D] 21

Answer : [C] 18

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has permitted banks from 18 countries to open Special Vostro Rupee Accounts (SVRAs) to settle payments in rupees. 60 such approvals have been given by the RBI. These 18 nations include Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom.

5. Who is the first female loco pilot to operate the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train?

[A] Surekha Yadav

[B] Bhawana Kant

[C] Avani Chaturvedi

[D] Mohana Singh

Answer : [A] Surekha Yadav

Surekha Yadav, Asia, first woman loco pilot has become the first female to operate the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train. Ms. Yadav piloted the Vande Bharat Express train between Solapur station and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.

6. Who is the author of Pookkuzhi, whose translation was featured in the longlist for the International Booker Prize 2023?

[A] Perumal Murugan

[B] Namita Gokhale

[C] Anees Salim

[D] Chitra Mudgal

Answer : [A] Perumal Murugan

Pyre, the English translation of writer Perumal Murugan’s Tamil Novel Pookkuzhi, has figured in the longlist for the International Booker prize 2023. The translator is Aniruddhan Vasudevan, who also translated Perumal Murugan’s Maathorubhagan into English as One Part Woman. This is the first Tamil novel that has found a place in the International Booker longlist.

7. As per Census 2011, the percentage share of population in which state in the age-group of 15 to 59 is 64% in comparison to 60.3% at all India level?

[A] Kerala

[B] Punjab

[C] Sikkim

[D] Telangana

Answer : [B] Punjab

In 2022, emigration clearances were issued to 3,73, 434 Indians, of which 10,654 were from Punjab, as per the recent data provided to the Lok Sabha. The percentage share of population in Punjab in the age-group of 15 to 59 is 64% in comparison to 60.3% at all India level as per census 2011.

8. Which institution released the “Multiple indicator survey”, which aims to keep track of India’s progress on various SDGs?

[A] NITI Ayog

[B] National Sample Survey Office

[C] Reserve Bank of India

[D] FSSAI

Answer : [B] National Sample Survey Office

The “multiple indicator survey” was conducted by the National Sample Survey Office; under the Ministry of Statistics and programme implementation. The survey’s purpose is to keep track of India’s progress on various Sustainable Development Goals. As per the survey, there are more young men and women in South India who can write computer programs using specialized languages, or code, than in other in other parts of the country.

9. Which state moved the Supreme Court against Governor for refusing to act on several Bills passed by the State legislature?

[A] Tamil Nadu

[B] Telangana

[C] Kerala

[D] Punjab

Answer : [B] Telangana

A petition was filed by Telangana Government against governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for creating a “constitutional impasse” by refusing to act on several Bills passed by the State legislature. The Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud agreed to urgently hear the petition. Telangana urged the court to “declare that the inaction, omission and failure to comply with the constitutional mandate qua the assent of the Bills by the Governor is highly irregular, illegal”,

10. Which country has unveiled plans to buy up to five U.S. nuclear-powered submarines?

[A] France

[B] India

[C] Australia

[D] Ukraine

Answer : [C] Australia

Australia has unveiled plans to buy up to five U.S. nuclear-powered submarines, then build a new model with U.S. and British technology under an ambitious plan. The announcement came at an event at California naval base where U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Albanese called it the biggest single investment in Australia’s defence capability in all its history.

11. The United States recognizes the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and which state/UT?

[A] Sikkim

[B] Arunachal Pradesh

[C] Assam

[D] West Bengal

Answer : [B] Arunachal Pradesh

The United States recognizes the McMahon Lion as the international boundary between China and Arunachal Pradesh, according to a bipartisan Senate resolution which sees Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India. The bipartisan Senator’s resolution condemns additional China’s provocations, including the People’s Republic of China’s use of military force to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control.

12. Which country unveiled its first portable attack drone ‘Kamikaze’?

[A] Israel

[B] Ukraine

[C] Taiwan

[D] Australia

Answer : [C] Taiwan

Taiwan unveiled its first portable attack drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle named ‘Kamikaze’. This is like a U.S. model used in Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Taiwan’s 23.5 million people live under constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims the self-ruled democracy as part of its territory. Beijing launched major military exercise in response to a visit by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.

13. Which country announced a new ‘Semiconductor mega cluster’ with $230 billion in investment from Samsung Electronics?

[A] India

[B] China

[C] South Korea

[D] Bangladesh

Answer : [C] South Korea

South Korea says it will build an enormous facility to make computer chips in the greater Seoul area, with about $230 billion in investment from memory chip giant Samsung Electronics. The plans were announced by President Yoon Suk Yeol and confirmed by the electronics giant. The world’s largest new ‘high-tech system semiconductor cluster’ will be built in the Seoul Metropolitan area and the total investment would be completed in about 20 years.

14. India signed a loan agreement with which institution for construction of green National Highway Corridors Project?

[A] ADB

[B] AIIB

[C] World Bank

[D] WEF

Answer : [C] World Bank

India and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement for the construction of the Green National Highway Corridors Project in four States. These States are Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, The agreement has been signed for the construction of 781 kilometers in these States, with loan assistance of 500 million dollars.

15. The government has introduced the Inter-Services Organizations Bill to strengthen the power of?

[A] Tri services Commanders

[B] Defence Minister

[C] Military Adviser

[D] Chief of the Army Staff

Answer : [A] Tri services Commanders

The government has introduced the Inter-Services Organizations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha to strengthen tri services commanders’ power. The Bill seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations in respect of service personnel for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties. The bill also states the Commander-in-Chief or, as the case may be, Officer-in-Command of an inter-services Organisation shall be the head of such Inter-services Organisation.

16. As per a recent government survey, what percent of rural households do not have access to any type of toilet?

[A] 12%

[B] 15%

[C] 21%

[D] 32%

Answer : [C] 21%

A recently released government survey has called into question the Central government’s claim in 2019 that all Indian villages are open defecation-free (ODF). The three older surveys which disputed the ODF status were the National Statistical Office (NSO) survey from October 2018, the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) of 2019-20, and the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) 2019-21. Over 21% of rural households do not have access to any type of toilet.

17. Who was appointed as the chairman od Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)?

[A] Deepak Mohanty

[B] Sarad Kumar Hota

[C] M K Jain

[D] Urjit Patel

Answer : [A] Deepak Mohanty

The government has appointed Deepak Mohanty as chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). He replaced Supratim Bandyopadhyay, whose term ended in January. Prior to this, Mohanty, a former executive director of the reserve Bank of India (RBI), served as a member of PFRDA.

18. Foshury Flop, which was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?

[A] Cricket

[B] Chess

[C] High Jump

[D] Hockey

Answer : [C] High Jump

American high jumper Dick Fosbury, who revolutionized high jump technique, recently passed away at the age of 76. Against convention, Fosbury turned his back to the bar and arched his body over it to win gold at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. The unique method, which he had developed a few years earlier-Fosbury Flop, is now the most used technique around the would.

19. Which country has appointed Eric Garcetti as its ambassador to India?

[A] Russia

[B] Ukraine

[C] USA

[D] UK

Answer : [C] USA

The US government has appointed former Los Angles mayor Eric Garcetti as the new ambassador to India, two years after his name was first announced for the role. Mr Garcetti, who is a close ally of Joe Biden, was nominated for the post by the US president in 2021. But his appointment was held up after allegations that he has overlooked accusations of sexual harassment against an aide when he was Mayor.

20. Which Union Ministry released Policy guidelines for utilizing eco-friendly materials in construction of roads?

[A] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

[B] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

[C] Ministry of Power

[D] Ministry of Mines

Answer : [B] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has released Policy guidelines or standards for utilizing eco-friendly materials in construction of National Highways. Eco-friendly materials such as fly ash, iron and steel slag, construction and demolition waste, recycled asphalt pavement, geo-synthetics, waste plastic, emulsion based cold mix and warm mix asphalt are being used in construction of National Highways.