Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 11th August 2023

1. Rajiv Gauba, who has been in the news, holds which position in India?

[A] NITI Aayog Vice Chairman

[B] Cabinet Secretary

[C] Home Secretary

[D] Chief Election Commissioner

Answer: [B] Cabinet Secretary

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba recently got an extension in service for another year, making him the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary. Before Rajiv Gauba, BD Pande had been the longest serving cabinet secretary from 1972 to 1977. Rajiv Gauba will remain in office till August 30, 2024. This is the third time his service has been extended for another year.

2. The first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture in India at which state?

[A] Assam

[B] West Bengal

[C] Odisha

[D] Uttarakhand

Answer: [A] Assam

Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati. Categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, the Himalayan vulture is a winter migrant to the Indian plains, and a resident of the high Himalayas.

3. Which country signed the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CIS-MOA) with the U.S.?

[A] Russia

[B] Pakistan

[C] China

[D] Papua New Guinea

Answer: [B] Pakistan

Pakistan’s Cabinet has approved the signing of a new security pact with the U.S.. a move that indicates a fresh start in defence cooperation after years of distrust between the two nations and may open avenues for Islamabad to get military hardware from Washington. Through a circulation summary, the Cabinet gave its seal of approval to sign the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement, known as the CIS-MOA, between

Pakistan and the US.

4. Which institution has established a standard definition for Water Neutrality’?

[A] Ministry of Jal Shakti

[B] NITI Aayog

[C] WAPCOS

[D] Indian Army

Answer: [B] NITI Aayog

The government’s think-tank NITI Aayog has established a standard definition and approach for water neutrality in industries to promote water conservation and efficient use. Water neutrality will be defined as the total freshwater consumption, including direct and indirect water use in critical supply chains, which should be equal to or less than the quantifiable water savings achieved through strategies aimed at improving water use efficiency and conservation efforts.

5. Which institution releases the ‘Rice Price Index’?

[A] NITI Aayog

[B] FAO

[C] IMF

[D] US Federal Reserve

Answer: [B] FAO

In july, the United Nations food agency reported that the rice price index rose by 2.89%, reaching its highest level in nearly 12 years. The increase was driven by strong demand and export restrictions imposed by India, affecting prices in key exporting countries, as indicated by the Food and Agriculture Organization’s All Rice Price Index.

6. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who has been in the news, holds which position in India?

[A] Supreme Court Judge

[B] Union Home Secretary

[C] Union Cabinet Secretary

[D] Chief Vigilance Commissioner

Answer: [B] Union Home Secretary

The Centre gave another one-year extension to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla till August 22, 2024, according to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The officer was to retire from service in November 2020 after his fixed two- year tenure had ended but his term was extended in 2020 through an order till 2021. He was then given two Subsequent one-year extensions till August 22 this year.

7. Which country is set to remove extra tariffs on Australian barley, as ties improve between the two countries?

[A] India

[B] China

[C] Sri Lanka

[D] Germany

Answer: [B] China

China said that it will remove extra tariffs on Australian barley, in the latest improvement of ties between the two after years of tensions. Beijing imposed hefty levies on key Australian exports such as barley, beef and wine in 2020, leveraging its economic muscle at the height of a bitter dispute with the then-conservative government

8. Aditi Swami, Parneet Kaur and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who are seen in the news, play which sports?

[A] Tennis

[B] Archery

[C] Squash

[D] Shooting

Answer: [B] Archery

Aditi Swami, Parneet Kaur and Jyothi Surekha Vennam of the compound women’s archery team won India’s first ever gold medal in World Archery Championships 2023 in Berlin. Sergio Pagni, a two-time World Cup Final winner, was hired as chief compound archery coach in December last year.

9. High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory (HAWC) is situated near which country?

[A] Papua New Guinea

[B] Mexico

[C] Japan

[D] Indonesia

Answer: [B] Mexico

The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory (HAWC) is situated near Puebla, Mexico, at approximately 13,500 feet on the Sierra Negra volcano. The gamma-ray and cosmic ray observatory helped detect the ‘highest-energy light’ from the sun.

10. What is the outlay for the ‘Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill (NRF), 2023’?

[A] Rs 5000 crore

[B] Rs 10000 crore

[C] Rs 20000 crore

[D] Rs 50000 crore

Answer: [D] Rs 50000 crore

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill (NRF), 2023 was introduced in Lok Sabha recently. The NRF Bill was given the green light by the Union Cabinet, witha budget of r50,000 crore for the upcoming five years. This allocation aims to systematically foster research and development across India’s research institutions, colleges, and universities at different levels.

11. What is the recent highest ‘Global sea surface temperature’, which surpassed the 2016 record?

[A] 15.96°C

[B] 18.96°C

[C] 20.96°C

[D] 25.96°C

Answer: [C] 20.96°C

The daily global sea surface temperatures have surpassed the 2016 record, reaching 20.96°C. which is significantly higher than the usual average for this period. The previous record was established during the 2016 El Niño event, when it touched 20.95C. Scientists say that the record will continue to be broken, as usually oceans are at their hottest globally in March, not August.

12. Moxila Upadhyaya, the Indian-American who was seen in the news, is associated with which profession?

[A] Scientist

[B] Magistrate Judge

[C] Sports person

[D] Business person

Answer: [B] Magistrate Judge

Moxila Upadhaya hails from the state of Gujarat in India and was raised near the US state Missouri. She was appointed as the US Magistrate Judge last year. The Indian-American judge presided over Trump’s election case. The former US President pleaded not guilty while being accused of hampering the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.

13. If a breach of privilege is believed to have committed by Members of Parliament, a motion will be referred to which committee?

[A] Privileges Committee

[B] Parliamentary Committee

[C] Priority Committee

[D] Prime Members Committee

Answer: [A] Privileges Committee

Parliamentary privilege grants specific rights to Members of Parliament, including freedom of expression during debates without the risk of court proceedings. If a breach of privilege is believed to have occurred, any member can raise a motion that will be referred to the Privileges Committee. Recently, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has referred complaints concerning the privilege of the House against TMC’s Derek O’Brien and AAP’s Raghav Chadha to the privileges committee.

14. Which Union Ministry is associated with “Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023′?

[A] Ministry of Home Affairs

[B] Ministry of Electronics and IT

[C] Ministry of Science and Technology

[D] Ministry of External Affairs

Answer: [B] Ministry of Electronics and IT

After five years of negotiations, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Indian Parliament by the Ministry of Electronics and IT. It recognizes both the rights of the individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes.

15. ‘Red admiral’ belongs to which species?

[A] Honey Bee

[B] Butterfly

[C] Spider

[D] Gecko

Answer: [B] Butterfly

The red admiral, a familiar butterfly in British and Irish gardens, is actually a migrant species from Europe and North Africa. This year, experts have observed a higher number of red admirals staying in southern England during the winter, resulting in increased sightings.

16. Celine Dion, the renowned international pop star, was recently diagnosed with which disease?

[A] Stiff Person Syndrome

[B] Myopathy

[C] Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

[D] Muscular dystrophy

Answer: [A] Stiff Person Syndrome

Celine Dion, the renowned international pop star, was recently diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). Stiff person syndrome is an uncommon neurological condition distinguished by gradual muscle stiffness and recurrent episodes of painful muscle spasms.

17. Which Indian state is adopting an Early Warning System to reduce Student Dropout?

[A] Goa

[B] Uttar Pradesh

[C] West Bengal

[D] Odisha

Answer: [B] Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government is adopting an “early warning system” inspired by the Netherlands to reduce student dropout rates in schools. The system closely monitors student attendance, and if a student is absent for more than 40 days, educational authorities intervene by contacting parents or guardians to ensure the student’s return to school and sustained engagement in their education.

18. The Offshore Areas Minerals Bill seeks to grant how many years of production lease for offshore minerals?

[A] 5 years

[B] 10 years

[C] 25 years

[D] 50 years

Answer: [D] 50 years

Recently, the Lok Sabha approved the Offshore Areas Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, which seeks to grant a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals. It seeks to create a transparent auction route for allocation of mines. It will enable the central government to frame rules for conservation and development of minerals in offshore areas.

19. Gilles Perrault, who was seen in the news, was associated with which profession?

[A] Scientist

[B] Author

[C] Sports person

[D] Politician

Answer: [B] Author

Gilles Perrault, the French author known for his novel “Le Pull-Over Rouge,” which triggered discussions about capital punishment in France, has passed away at the age of 92. Jacques Peyroles, originally a lawyer, transitioned into a career as a journalist and later a novelist, adopting the pen name Gilles Perrault.

20. Northern muriquis, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?

[A] Turtle

[B] Monkey

[C] Frog

[D] Snake

Answer: [B] Monkey

Northern muriquis are critically endangered monkeys, emphasizing the importance of successfully breeding healthy offspring for their survival. Researchers are studying their faeces to gain insights into their mating behaviors and partner selection.