Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 13th & 14th April 2024

1. Global Hepatitis Report 2024, recently released by which organization?

A. WHO

B. UNICEF

C. UNDP

D. WTO

• The 2024 WHO Global Hepatitis Report highlights India’s high prevalence, with 2.9 crore cases of hepatitis B and 0.55 crore cases of hepatitis C. Released during the World Hepatitis Summit, WHO aims to eliminate hepatitis by 2030. In 2022, India saw 50,000 new hepatitis B cases, 1.4 lakh hepatitis C cases, and 1.23 lakh deaths.

2. Recently, where was the India-Kazakhstan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism organized?

A. Astana

B. New Delhi

C. Almaty

D. Chennai

• The 5^th India-Kazakhstan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism met in Astana on April 8, 2024. Led by KD Dewal and Mr Talgat Kaliyev, the delegations discussed regional terrorist threats, including cross-border terrorism in South Asia and the Af-Pak region.
• They addressed challenges such as technology use by terrorists, internet misuse, radicalization, and terror financing. Both stressed cooperation enhancement via information exchange, capacity building, and multilateral engagement.

3. Kala azar is a neglected tropical disease caused by which agent?

A. Virus

B. Bacteria

C. Protozoan parasite

D. Fungus

• India has achieved the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, meeting its target as per National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control data. Kala-azar is the second deadliest protozoan parasitic disease globally, endemic in 76 countries. It’s transmitted by infected sandflies and primarily affects the reticuloendothelial system. Leishmaniasis is associated with poverty, malnutrition, weak immunity, and environmental changes like deforestation and urbanization.

4. Jenu Kuruba tribe primarily resides in which region of India?

A. Himalayan Region

B. Western ghats

C. Andaman & Nicobar Island

D. North Eastern Region

• The Jenu Kuruba tribe is indigenous to the Western Ghats. They were historically marginalized, deprived of rights and development opportunities. ‘Jenu’ means honey and ‘kuruba’ denotes their caste, reflecting their traditional occupation as honey gatherers. They inhabit small settlements called Hadi, practicing shifting cultivation and relying on forest resources for sustenance.

5. Global Unicorn Index 2024, recently released by which organization?

A. Hurun Research Institute

B. UNs Industrial Development Organization

C. World Intellectual Property Organization

D. UNs Conference on Trade and Development

• Hurun Research Institute’s “Global Unicorn Index 2024” ranks startups founded in the 2000s. India, with 67 unicorns in 2023 (down from 68 in 2022), ranks third globally. The USA leads with 703, followed by China with 340. India lacks unicorns in Aerospace/SpaceTech.

6. Who received the prestigious “Medal of Honor” at Consular Day 2024 in Chennai for promoting bilateral relations between Palau and India?

A. Sanjeev Jai Narain

B. Sachi Gurumayum

C. Neeraj Sharma

D. Amit Sharma

• Neeraj Sharma, Honorary Consul General of Palau in India, received the prestigious “Medal of Honour” from HCCD-India during Consular Day at Chennai. The event, hosted by HCCD-India, celebrated Honorary Consuls’ vital role in global relations. KL Ganju and Mohan Suresh graced the ceremony. Established in 1995, HCCD-India promotes understanding among Honorary Consuls.

7. Recently, which organization launched a new edition of the Girl Empowerment Mission?

A. DRDO

B. ISRO

C. NTPC

D. BHEL

• NTPC Limited, India’s largest power company, launches the latest edition of Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), aligned with the Government’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative. GEM offers a 1-month workshop nurturing girls’ imaginations and fostering opportunities. Started in 2018 with 392 participants, GEM expanded nationwide, benefitting 7,424 girls till date, despite COVID-19 challenges.

8. Clean Economy Investor Forum will be organized by the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in which country in June 2024?

A. India

B. Singapore

C. France

D. Italy

• The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum will be held in Singapore in June 2024 to attract investments for sustainable infrastructure, climate tech, and renewable energy projects. Tech companies and startups are invited to showcase Indian investment projects in EV and solar energy infrastructure.

9. Recently, who has been selected to be part of Britain’s research team on dementia?

A. Chaand Nagpaul

B. Kailash Chand

C. Ashvini Keshavan

D. Kamlesh Khunti

• Dr Ashvini Keshavan, an Indian-origin neurologist and Senior Clinical Research and Honorary Consultant Neurologist Fellow at University College London (UCL), has been selected to be part of Britain’s research team on dementia. The team, called ADAPT (Alzheimer’s disease Diagnosis And Plasma pTau217), will focus on the biomarker p-tau217, which reflects the levels of two proteins found in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease: amyloid and tau.

10. What is the primary objective of ‘CDP-SURAKSHA’ platform?

A. To disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers

B. To create the largest 3D map in universe

C. To facilitate voter registration processes

D. To provide real time updates on election results

• The Government of India has launched CDP-SURAKSHA, a digital platform for horticulture farmers to receive subsidies efficiently. It integrates with PM-KISAN and utilizes e-RUPI vouchers for instant subsidy disbursal. Features include UIDAI validation, eRUPI integration, and geotagging. Farmers can order planting material, contribute their share, and receive subsidies automatically.

11. Recently, who has been appointed as the head of the US-India Tax Forum by US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF)?

A. MN Srinivasu

B. Tarun Bajaj

C. Naveen Aggarwal

D. Ajit Saxena

• Former Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj, now head of the US-India Tax Forum, brings extensive finance and taxation expertise to the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). Appointed after serving as an advisor, Bajaj’s leadership aims to strengthen economic ties between the US and India.

12. What is the main objective of India’s Chandrayaan-4 mission, as announced by ISRO Chief S Somnath recently?

A. To collect moon rocks and soil and bring them back to Earth for scientific analysis

B. To establish a research station on moon

C. To explore water on the moon

D. None of the above

• The primary objective of India’s Chandrayaan-4 mission is to collect moon rocks and soil and bring them back to Earth for scientific analysis. The mission will also include a safe and controlled landing on the moon, successful ascent from the lunar surface, docking and undocking maneuvers in lunar orbit, and ensuring safe return of the samples back to Earth. Only three countries have achieved lunar sample return so far: the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.