Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 13th July 2023
1. Bastille Day is the National Day of which country?
[A] Bhutan
[B] Bangladesh
[C] France
[D] USA
Answer: [C] France
14th July is celebrated as the Fête Nationale Française, or the National Day in France. It is also known as the Bastille Day. For this year’s celebrations, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has been invited as the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade in France.
2. Who is the head of the RBI’s working group on internationalisation of the rupee.?
[A] D Subbarao
[B] Sakthikanta Das
[C] Urjit Patel
[D] Radha Shyam Ratho
Answer: [D] Radha Shyam Ratho
The Reserve Bank recently constituted a working group on to accelerate the pace of internationalisation of the rupee, which is headed by RBI Executive Director Radha Shyam Ratho. The working group has submitted its report and has recommended various measures, including inclusion of the rupee in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket and recalibration of the foreign portfolio investor (FPI) regime etc.
3. Where was the “AI for Good global summit” held?
[A] Geneva
[B] New Delhi
[C] Los Angeles
[D] Perth
Answer: [A] Geneva
The International Telecommunication Union, an agency of the United Nations, hosted the AI for Good global summit in Geneva from July 4-7. During the event, a panel of robots and their creators were invited to attend a press conference to answer questions from reporters on job automation, artificial intelligence (AI) leadership and collaboration with humans etc
4. Which Department has planned to introduce compulsory quality control and safety standards for various household electrical appliances?
[A] Department of Atomic Energy
[B] Department of Science and Technology
[C] Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
[D] Department of Administrative Reforms and Grievance
Answer: [C] Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
The Government of India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has planned to introduce compulsory quality control and safety standards for various household electrical appliances. The targeted appliances are classified under 6 categories. This initiative is aimed at reduction in import of sub- standard products from countries such as China and promote domestic manufacturing.
5. What is Leqembi, which is in news recently?
[A] Medication for Alzheimer’s disease
[B] COVID 19 variant
[C] Plant based nutrient
[D] Bio Ethanol variant
Answer: [A] Medication for Alzheimer’s disease
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb) which is a medication designed to treat Alzheimner’s disease. However, this decision raises difficult issues concerning the safety and affordability of the drug.
6. Mount Fagradalsfjall is a volcano situated in which country?
[A] Indonesia
[B] Iceland
[C] Japan
[D] Philippines
Answer: [B] Iceland
Mount Fagradalsfjall is situated on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It has registered around 2,200 earthquakes recently. The volcano is situated around 40 kilometres from Reykjavík, Iceland. Thousands of earthquakes in the region in recent weeks warned of geological activity.
7. Which band regiment is accompanying the Indian contingent to the French National Day Parade?
[A] Rajputana Rifles Regiment
[B] Assam Rifles Regiment
[C] Gorkha Regiment
[D] Special Protection Group Regiment
Answer: [A] Rajputana Rifles Regiment
The Rajputana Rifles Regiment Band is accompanying the Indian contingent to the French National Day Parade. 14 July is celebrated as the Fête Nationale Française, or the National Day in France. It is also known as the Bastille Day. The parade will witness a 269-member tri- services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces marching alongside their French counterparts.
8. Kent, where giant hand-axes of pre-historic period were recently excavated, is in which country?
[A] UK
[B] USA
[C] Greece
[D] Japan
Answer: [A] UK
During excavations conducted in Kent, UK, one of the longest stone tools ever found in Britain was discovered alongside 800 other prehistoric artifacts that were preserved in deep ice age sediments. The stone tool was measuring 29.5cm and other notable findings are “giant handaxes” and a Roman cemetery, dating to a quarter of a million years later than the Ice Age activity.
9. Which institution released the ‘State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022’?
[A] WMO
[B] FAO
[C] UNEP
[D] NASA
Answer: [A] WMO
The State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 report, issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlights the escalating effects of global warming and resulting climate change in the region. Over the past three decades, the region has experienced significant impacts including rising average temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and a Surge in extreme weather phenomena such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, tropical cyclones, floods, landslides, as well as the melting of glaciers and rising sea levels.
10. Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago located in which Ocean?
[A] Pacific Ocean
[B] Antarctic Ocean
[C] Arctic Ocean
[D] Indian Ocean
Answer: [C] Arctic Ocean
The Arctic region is witnessing a newly discovered consequence of climate change as groundwater springs, rich in methane, emerge due to the retreat of glaciers caused by global warming. Groundwater springs in the Arctic’s Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard have the potential to release over 2,000 tonnes of methane each year.
11. Which institution has developed ‘Farmers’ distress index’?
[A] NABARD
[B] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
[C] CRIDA
[D] CSIR
Answer: [C] CRIDA
The Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) in India has developed an early warning system known as the “farmers’ distress index” to address agricultural challenges. The index, aimed at reducing crop loss, income shocks, and farmer distress, is nearing completion and will be presented to the central government within the next few months.
12. Which body released the report titled ‘Uncovering the Invisible: Successes and Challenges for Wildlife Crime Prosecution in Europe’?
[A] LIFE SWiPE project
[B] ESA
[C] UNEP
[D] FAO
Answer: [A] LIFE SWIPE project
The report titled ‘Uncovering the Invisible: Successes and Challenges for Wildlife Crime Prosecution in Europe’ highlights that a significant number of wildlife crimes in Europe go unnoticed or unpunished, with approximately 60% of reported complaints not resulting in indictments. The study conducted by the LIFE SWIPE project, which focuses on successful wildlife crime prosecution in Europe, reveals that suspended imprisonment was the most common form of punishment issued.
13. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is situated in which state/UT?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Bihar
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Sikkim
Answer: [C] Madhya Pradesh
Authorities intend to relocate a number of African cheetahs from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India, to the nearby Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary situated on the northern border of Mandsaur and Nimach districts within the same state. Gandhi Sagar, located approximately five to six hours away from Kuno, encompasses a forest area spanning 368 square kilometers, along with an additional surrounding area of 2,500 square kilometers.
14. Which state/UT launched Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) scheme?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Haryana
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Answer: [B] Haryana
The Haryana government has introduced a monthly pension program – Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) scheme of 2,750 for low-income unmarried individuals aged 45 to 60. Additionally, widowed individuals between the ages of 40 and 60, with an annual income below 3 lakh, will also receive the same monthly pension amount.
15. Which is the first state in the United States to explicitly prohibit caste-based discrimination?
[A] Texas
[B] California
[C] Washington
[D] New York
Answer: [B] California
The Assembly Judiciary Committee of California recently held a hearing regarding Senate Bill 403 (SB403), a proposed legislation aiming to forbid caste discrimination. If this bill is approved, California would be the first state in the United States to explicitly prohibit caste-based discrimination, extending protections to caste as a recognized category within the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, fair housing laws, and employment laws.
16. As per the recent Finance Ministry report, what is India’s GDP growth for FY 23?
[A] 6.2 per cent
[B] 7.2 per cent
[C] 7.5 per cent
[D] 8.2 per cent
Answer: [B] 7.2 per cent
Recently, the Finance Ministry unveiled the Annual Economic Review report for May 2023, announcing that India’s GDP growth for FY 23 reached 7.2 percent, exceeding the previously estimated 7 percent from February. The report also highlighted that both consumption and investment have surpassed their levels prior to the pandemic, indicating a positive recovery in the post-pandemic period.
17. Centre has sought an explanation from which state for diversion of PM POSHAN funds for State elections?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Goa
[D] West Bengal
Answer: [D] West Bengal
Union government has sought an explanation from the West Bengal government regarding the diversion of PM POSHAN (midday meal scheme) funds for State elections. The letter mentioned that funds earmarked for midday meal under PM POSHAN are being used for a different purpose.
18. Which institution has filed papers with SEBI for IPO?
[A] IRDAI
[B] PFRDA
[C] NSDL
[D] IRCTC
Answer: [C] NSDL
National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), a leading market infrastructure institution in India, has recently filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). This is an important step for NSDL as it prepares to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
19. Which institution has pitched for reforms and more private sector role in agriculture sector?
[A] Union Finance Ministry
[B] Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] NABARD
Answer: [C] NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog has called for a shift in approach towards agriculture with focus on liberalization of the sector. It also proposed for changes in the old regulations governing it to ensure significant and sustained increase in farmers’ income.
20. Tanabata is a famous festival celebrated in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] Russia
Answer: Japan
Tanabata is a Japanese festival is celebrated on the 7th day of the seventh lunar month every year. Aso known as the Star Festival, it is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. In certain regions of Japan, the star festival is observed on August 7, following the traditional Chinese calendar.