Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 11th and 12th June 2024

1. Where was the 112^th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of International Labour Organisation (ILO) held recently?

A. Geneva, Switzerland

B. London, UK

C. New Delhi, India

D. Paris, France

• The Indian delegation led by Secretary Sumita Dawra attended the 112th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva. Dawra discussed India’s labour reforms, social security for informal workers, and female labour participation.
• Meetings with ILO leaders focused on global skills mapping, social security, green jobs, and skilled worker migration. The delegation emphasized the care sector’s importance, highlighting initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and its GDP impact.

2. Recently, which armed force has launched ‘Vidyut Rakshak’, an integrated generator monitoring, protection, and control system?

A. Indian Air Force

B. Indian Navy

C. Indian Army

D. National Security Guard

• The Indian Army has introduced ‘Vidyut Rakshak’, a generator monitoring, protection, and control system developed by the Army Design Bureau. Utilizing IoT technology, it automates operations, predicts faults, and works with all generator types, aiming to save manpower. Part of the ‘Year of Tech Absorption’, it highlights the Army’s tech commitment. Vidyut Rakshak, showcased at Aero India 2023, is now in use by the Army.

3. Ghataprabha River is a tributary of which river?

A. Krishna

B. Godavari

C. Kaveri

D. Narmada

• Nine people were rescued by locals after a tractor overturned into the Ghataprabha River, a tributary of the Krishna River in Karnataka. The river originates in the Western Ghats, flows east for 283 kilometers, and joins the Krishna River. It drops 53 meters at Gokak Falls in Belgaum District. The river basin spans 8,829 square kilometers across Karnataka and Maharashtra, with tributaries including the Hiranyakeshi and Markandeya Rivers.

4. What is the primary aim of the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme?

A. To provide education to farmers children

B. To supplement financial needs of land-holding farmers families

C. To offer health insurance to farmers

D. To provide employment to farmers

• The Prime Minister released the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme. This Central Sector Scheme, managed by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, aims to support land-holding farmers’ financial needs. It provides income support of Rs 6,000 annually, distributed in three Rs 2,000 installments every four months. Beneficiaries include all eligible landholding farmer families, excluding those of higher economic status.

5. What is ‘Xylitol’?

A. Asteroid

B. Artificial sweetener

C. Vaccine for Malaria

D. Invasive weed

• A recent study indicates that artificial sweetener xylitol could pose health risks, elevating the likelihood of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol, is widely used as a sweetener in sugar-free chewing gums, diabetes-friendly foods, and oral-care products. It combines traits of sugar and alcohol molecules and is sourced naturally or artificially from plant materials.

6. Iga Swiatek, who recently won French Open 2024 women’s title, belongs to which country?

A. Ireland

B. Poland

C. China

D. India

• Iga Swiatek, 23, secured her third consecutive French Open women’s title by defeating Jasmine Paolini. Making history, she’s the first woman since Justine Henin (2005-2007) to achieve this feat. Swiatek, hailing from Poland, currently holds the World No. 1 rank in women’s singles as per the Women’s Tennis Association.

7. Which ministries have initiated the preparations for organisation of International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2024?

A. Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of AYUSH

B. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Ministry of AYUSH

C. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Ministry of Defence

D. Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of AYUSH

• The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and the Ministry of AYUSH are gearing up for International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2024, slated for June 21. Reviewing preparations, Secretary Sanjay Jaju (I&B) and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (AYUSH) focused on media and outreach plans.
• Various media units under I&B, including Prasar Bharati and New Media Wing, will promote Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) benefits. Prasar Bharati will broadcast special programs via Doordarshan and All India Radio. AYUSH will share the ‘Yoga Geet’ across platforms.

8. Which IIT is recently collaborated with NASA to study multi-drug resistant pathogens on the International Space Station (ISS)?

A. IIT Bombay

B. IIT Kanpur

C. IIT Ahmedabad

D. IIT Madras

• IIT Madras and NASA’s JPL researchers are investigating multi-drug resistant pathogens aboard the International Space Station (ISS), with potential implications for astronaut health and Earth. The study, focused on Enterobacter bugandensis, a common pathogen on the ISS surfaces, delves into genomic, functional, and metabolic enhancements of these pathogens. The findings could aid in developing strategies to combat drug-resistant infections both in space and on Earth.

9. Recently, who has made history as the first Indian Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter to win in the UFC?

A. Pooja Tomar

B. Rajani Deory

C. Roshibina Devi

D. Nyeman Wangsu

• Puja Tomar, hailing from Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, made history as the first Indian MMA fighter to win in the UFC. Before UFC, she secured five national Wushu titles. Her recent victory against Rayanne Dos Santos showcased her resilience, winning via split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30, and 29-28.

10. Recently, Chandrababu Naidu became the Chief Minister of which state?

A. Tamil Nadu

B. Telangana

C. Andhra Pradesh

D. Karnataka

• N Chandrababu Naidu, TDP national president, was sworn in as Chief Minister of residual Andhra Pradesh for the second time on June 12 by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer. The ceremony took place at Kesarapalle near Vijayawada. This marks Naidu’s fourth term as Chief Minister in his over four-decade political career, having served twice in combined Andhra Pradesh and now twice in residual Andhra Pradesh.

11. Saulos Klaus Chilima, who recently passed away in a plane crash, was the Vice President of which country?

A. Rwanda

B. Mauritius

C. Malawi

D. Tanzania

• Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others died in a plane crash. The military aircraft left Lilongwe but couldn’t land at Mzuzu due to poor visibility and lost contact after being ordered back. President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the wreckage was found in Chikangawa Forest with no survivors. Chilima, once a potential presidential candidate, was cleared of graft charges last month.

12. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state?

A. Madhya Pradesh

B. Uttar Pradesh

C. Maharashtra

D. Karnataka

• The Madhya Pradesh government has prepared the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to become a new cheetah habitat. Teams from Kenya and South Africa assessed the site, and prey animals were relocated from other tiger reserves. Eight Namibian cheetahs were released at Kuno National Park in 2022, followed by 12 more from South Africa in 2023.

13. Recently, where was the ‘Japan India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX-24)’ started?

A. Gujarat, India

B. Yokosuka, Japan

C. Tokyo, Japan

D. Chennai, India

• The 8th Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX-24) has commenced in Yokosuka, Japan. Hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), it features the Indian Navy’s INS Shivalik and JMSDF’s JS Yugiri. The exercise includes harbour and sea phases, focusing on naval interaction and warfighting skills, aiming to enhance interoperability and strengthen defense ties between Japan and India.

14. Recently, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared which year as the ‘International Year of Quantum Science and Technology’?

A. 2024

B. 2025

C. 2026

D. 2027

• The UN General Assembly has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. This decision, made on June 7, 2024, aims to raise public awareness, encourage youth involvement, and support quantum science applications. The year marks the centenary of Werner Heisenberg’s foundational quantum mechanics paper. Additionally, 2025 is designated for cooperatives, peace and trust, and glacier preservation, while 2024 celebrates camelids.

15. Recently, Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as the Chief Minister of which state?

A. Odisha

B. Himachal Pradesh

C. Maharashtra

D. Karnataka

• Mohan Charan Majhi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was sworn in as Odisha’s chief minister on June 12, 2024, by Governor Raghubar Das. He is the first BJP leader and the third tribal to hold this position. Two deputy chief ministers, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, were also sworn in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, and nine BJP state chief ministers attended the ceremony.

16. Which day is observed as ‘World Day Against Child Labour’ every year?

A. June.11

B. June.12

C. June.13

D. June.14

• World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually on 12 June to focus on ending child labour. Initiated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2002, the day highlights global efforts to protect children. The 2024 theme, “Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour,” marks the 25th anniversary of the ILO’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention. The ILO headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

17. Recently, where was the foreign minister meeting of the BRICS countries held?

A. St. Petersburg, Russia

B. Guangzhou, China

C. Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

D. Bengaluru, India

• The first BRICS ministerial meeting with new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE was held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on 10-11 June 2024. Russia, the current BRICS chairman, hosted the meeting to prepare for the 16th annual BRICS summit in October 2024. The 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023, had invited six countries to join.

18. World Migration Report and Migration Health Annual Report are published by which organization?

A. International Organization for Migration (IOM)

B. International Labour Organization (ILO)

C. World Bank

D. UNICEF

• At least 49 migrants died and 140 others went missing after a boat capsized off Yemen’s coast, the UN migration agency reported on June 11. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951 and headquartered in Geneva, aids governments and migrants. With 175 member states, it focuses on migration health, emergency operations, migration development, and counter-trafficking.

19. Which organization recently released “Raising Ambition, Accelerating Action: Towards Enhanced NDCs for Forests” report?

A. UN Development Programme (UNDP)

B. UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

C. International Labour Organization (ILO)

D. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• The UNEP report “Raising Ambition, Accelerating Action: Towards Enhanced NDCs for Forests” highlights significant gaps in forest protection in current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). From 2019-2023, tropical deforestation emitted 5.6 billion tonnes of CO2 annually in the top 20 countries. Agriculture and weak land-use policies are major deforestation drivers.

20. What is the position of India in the Global Gender Gap Index 2024?

A. 123

B. 132

C. 111

D. 129

• India dropped to 129th place on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap index, with Iceland maintaining the top spot. In South Asia, India ranks fifth, trailing Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Pakistan ranks last globally. Economically, India, along with Bangladesh, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan, and Morocco, exhibits low gender parity. The WEF estimates it will take 134 years to achieve full gender parity at the current pace, with a 68.5% gap closure globally.

21. Pema Khandu recently became the Chief Minister of which Northeastern state?

A. Arunachal Pradesh

B. Assam

C. Manipur

D. Mizoram

• Chief Minister Pema Khandu was sworn in for a third consecutive term on June 13, 2024, at the DK State Convention Centre in Itanagar. He announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election manifesto will guide Arunachal Pradesh’s new government for the next five years.

22. Which country will host men’s Junior Hockey World Cup in 2025?

A. Germany

B. France

C. India

D. Malaysia

• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has chosen India to host the inaugural FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, featuring 24 teams, in December 2025. This decision aligns with FIH’s strategy to expand opportunities and promote diversity in hockey.
• FIH President Tayyab Ikram and Hockey India’s President Dr. Dilip Tirkey emphasized the event’s significance and India’s commitment to fostering global hockey talent. India has previously hosted the tournament thrice, winning twice.

23. Which organization recently released ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report?

A. World Bank

B. UNEP

C. UNDP

D. ILO

• The World Bank’s June 2024 Global Economic Prospects report revised India’s GDP growth forecast for 2024-25 to 6.6%, up from 6.4% in January. India is projected to remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2024-25. For 2025-26, the forecast increased to 6.7% from 6.5%. India’s economy grew by 8.2% in 2023-24, per the NSO. The Reserve Bank of India raised its 2024-25 forecast to 7.2%.

24. Recently, who has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff?

A. Mukesh Chadha

B. Upendra Dwivedi

C. Dheerendra Singh

D. Manjit Kumar

• Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed as the Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding General Manoj C Pande. Born on July 1, 1964, he joined the Infantry (Jammu and Kashmir Rifles) in 1984. With nearly 40 years of service, he held key roles such as Director General Infantry and GOC-in-C Northern Command.