Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 14th & 15th February 2024

1. ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’ was established in which city of India?

A. Hyderabad

B. Chennai

C. Bengaluru

D. Kochi

• The former Vice-President of India and Union Minister for Culture will inaugurate the ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’ in Hyderabad, part of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama. Established in 1953, it aims to preserve and promote India’s diverse cultural heritage.

2. Recently, UPI payment system has been launched in which two countries?

A. Sri Lanka and Mauritius

B. Australia and Egypt

C. Chile and Peru

D. Iran and Israel

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, inaugurated Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, and RuPay card services in Mauritius via video conferencing.
• Mr. Jugnauth announced the co-branded RuPay card as Mauritius’ domestic card. This initiative aims to enhance economic ties and connectivity between the countries, providing convenience to their citizens. Sri Lankan President congratulated Modi on the consecration of Shri Ram Mandir and highlighted longstanding economic relations.

3. Which countries have been declared as guests of honor at the 2024 World Government Summit in Dubai?

A. Egypt and Iraq

B. China, France and Russia

C. India, Qatar, and Turkey

D. India, Ukraine and Australia

• India, Türkiye, and Qatar named guests of honor at the 2024 World Governments Summit in Dubai, February 12-14, themed ‘Shaping Future Governments.’ Over 25 global government and state heads are participating in this summit.

4. What is the primary objective of the SWATI Portal?

A. Creating a single online portal representing Indian Women and Girls in STEMM

B. To develop a new technology for women in science

C. To provide financial support to women entrepreneurs

D. Improving the lives of senior citizens

• The Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India launched the “Science for Women-A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)” Portal, focused on showcasing Indian women and girls in STEMM fields. The portal, a first-of-its-kind in India, is developed by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research. SWATI aims to address gender-gap challenges in policy making by serving as a comprehensive interactive database.

5. What is the theme of ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024?

A. Innovate, Demonstrate, Elevate, Advance

B. Women and Girls in Science Leadership, a New Era for Sustainability

C. Investment in Women and Girls

D. Equality and Parity in Science

• The theme for the 9^th International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2024 is “Women and Girls in Science Leadership, a New Era for Sustainability”. The theme emphasizes the importance of women’s leadership in science for achieving global sustainability goals. The day is celebrated on February 11th. The Royal Academy of Science International Trust organizes the 2024 International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly.

6. Government recently launched a ‘Mass Drug Administration’ campaign for which disease?

A. Dengue

B. Tuberculosis

C. Lymphatic Filariasis

D. Chickenpox

• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched the Sarva Dawa Sevan or Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign, aiming to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in 10 high-burden states by 2027, three years ahead of the global target.
• Health workers will conduct door-to-door Mass Drug Administration in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. Intensive monitoring at the block level and daily analyses of coverage and monitoring reports will be emphasized.

7. Where was a new defense system ‘Precision Approach Radar’ inaugurated?

A. Andaman and Nicobar Island

B. Kerala

C. Lakshadweep

D. Chennai

• Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar inaugurated Precision Approach Radar (PAR) at INS Utkrosh in Andaman and Nicobar Islands during his 3-day visit to bolster the strategic tri-service command. The PAR, manufactured by a Chennai company, enhances aircraft landing safety in low visibility conditions, such as heavy rain and fog, offering precise horizontal and vertical guidance.

8. Which country won the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup?

A. India

B. Australia

C. South Africa

D. New Zealand

• Australia won the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup by defeating India by 79 runs in the final match on February 11, 2024 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, South Africa. This is Australia’s fourth ICC Under-19 World Cup victory, and the third consecutive time they defeat India in the final. The 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup ran from January 19 to February 11, 2024.

9. CM ELEVATE Entrepreneurship Programme launched by which state government?

A. Sikkim

B. Meghalaya

C. Assam

D. Manipur

• Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched CM-Elevate, a state-funded entrepreneurship program, aiming to support over 20,000 entrepreneurs in various businesses over the next 3-4 years. The government has allocated Rs 300 crore for the scheme, offering up to 75% subsidy and comprehensive support for proposal implementation. Conrad K Sangma emphasized promoting entrepreneurship to reduce dependency on government jobs and encourage private sector job creation.

10. When is the ‘World Unani Day’ observed every year?

A. 11 February

B. 12 February

C. 16 February

D. 17 February

• World Unani Day is celebrated annually on February 11. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a social reformer and Unani scholar. Khan is known for bringing Unani medicine to India and was a founder of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. The theme for World Unani Day 2024 is “Unani Medicine for One Earth, One Health”

11. GROW report and portal is launched by which one of the following?

A. Ministry of Agriculture

B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

C. NITI Aayog

D. Ministry of Textiles

• NITI Aayog launched the “Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW)” initiative, unveiling a portal for universal access to state and district-level data. Hosted on the Bhuvan website, GROW employs advanced technologies like remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across India. It aligns with national goals, aiming to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes.

12. Where was the first council meeting of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund held?

A. United States

B. United Kingdom

C. Russia

D. India

• The inaugural meeting of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) in Washington DC, United States set guidelines for implementation, proposed during COP15 in 2022. GEF’s member governments committed $1.1 billion for global initiatives addressing biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control.

13. Fire Capped Tit belongs to which one of the following species?

A. Bird

B. Fish

C. Plant

D. Spider

• Birders recently observed the fire-capped tit, a small bird species. It is a part of the Paridae family, in Aravalli hills, signaling reverse migration from winter to summer. Native to the Himalayas, it migrates south to Western Ghats and Kerala in September, returning in February/March.

14. Dattajirao Krishna Rao Gaekwad, who passed away recently, was associated with which sport?

A. Football

B. Cricket

C. Hockey

D. Boxing

• Former Indian cricket captain Dattajiro Krishnarao Gaekwad, aged 95, passed away, making him the oldest living Indian cricketer before his demise. Gaekwad led the Baroda cricket team to victory in the Ranji Trophy during the 1957–58, leaving a significant mark on the sport.

15. Recently, IEEE Kerala Section has given the KPP Nambiar Award to whom?

A. S Somnath

B. Palanivel Veeramuthuvel

C. M Sankaran

D. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava

• ISRO Chairman S Somanath received the 2024 KPP Nambiar Award from IEEE Kerala section for his pivotal role in Chandrayaan-3 and significant contributions to ISRO missions. The award, named after electronic industry pioneer KPP Nambiar, honors individuals or groups in Kerala for notable advancements in technology aligned with IEEE’s vision.

16. Ministry of Education recently signed an agreement with which International governing body to promote football in the country?

A. FIFA

B. World Anti-doping Agency

C. International Football Association Board

D. International Olympic Committee

• The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with FIFA, is enhancing football accessibility in schools. They are distributing 11 lakh footballs nationwide, benefiting over 1.5 lakh schools.
• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the initiative, providing 6,848 footballs to 1,260 schools in Odisha. This marks a crucial step towards integrating football activities into the education system, promoting sports engagement among students on a large scale.

17. Hastsal Minar is located in which state/UT?

A. Jammu & Kashmir

B. Rajasthan

C. Andhra Pradesh

D. Delhi

• The Hastsal Minar, located in a small village in western Delhi, was completed in 1634 during Shah Jahan’s reign. Also known as Mini Qutab Minar, it’s constructed with lakhori bricks and red sandstone, standing 17 meters tall with five storeys. Used by Shah Jahan as a hunting lodge, it gained Grade A heritage value in 2018, under Delhi government’s Phase IV project for monument conservation.

18. Where was the statue of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Late Gen Bipin Rawat, unveiled?

A. Gandhi Nagar

B. Udagamandalam

C. Dehradun

D. Chandigarh

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled a life-size statue of late General Bipin Rawat, the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at TonsBridge School, Dehradun. Singh recalled an incident where Rawat, wounded at a remote border post, strengthened India’s defense strategies.

19. When is the National Women’s Day observed every year in India?

A. 13 February

B. 15 February

C. 16 February

D. 17 February

• The 13th of February is National Women’s Day, an annual celebration in India. 13th February marks the 145th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, the “Nightingale of India.” A key figure in India’s independence struggle and a celebrated poet, she is honored on National Women’s Day for her advocacy of women’s rights.

20. Recently, which ministry inaugurated the pilot project titled ‘Smart Gram Panchayat’ at Paprour Gram Panchayat, Bihar?

A. Ministry of Agriculture

B. Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj

C. Ministry of Home Affairs

D. Ministry of Tourism

• Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh inaugurated a landmark initiative at Paprour Gram Panchayat under Barauni Block of Begusarai District, signalling a significant leap towards digital empowerment in Grameen Bharat (rural India).
• The pilot project titled ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ was launched with the aim to extend PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service in all Gram Panchayats across Begusarai District in Bihar. Begusarai has now become the first District in Bihar to equip all Gram Panchayats with Wi-Fi services under the PM-WANI Scheme.

21. Ten Cities Development Concept is launched by which state government?

A. Sikkim

B. Meghalaya

C. Assam

D. Manipur

• The Assam government has launched the ‘Ten Cities Development Concept’ for sustainable urban development. Focused on ten cities including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Tezpur, North-Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Silchar, Karimganj, Dhubri, and Haflong/Diphu, the initiative serves as ‘Lighthouses’ guiding other urban local bodies. It aims to enhance urban infrastructure, promote balanced development, and create economic opportunities, emphasizing the state’s commitment to inclusive growth in both urban and rural areas.

22. Which bank has released the CRISIL study report named ‘Prabhaav’?

A. SIDBI

B. NABARD

C. HDFC

D. SBI

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has released the CRISIL study report, “Prabhaav,” evaluating the impact of the Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS) under the Start-up India Action Plan.
• Managed by SIDBI for DPIIT, FFS has facilitated investments and aided start-ups in deep tech, agri-tech, health tech, and financial services. The Ministry of Finance and DPIIT officials praised SIDBI’s effective scheme management and positive outcomes, as revealed in the report.

23. Recently, India and Bangladesh launched the inaugural trial movement of vessels between which two ports?

A. Petrapole Land Port & Ghojadanga Land Port

B. Maia Port & Sultanganj Port

C. Banglabandha Land Port & Mongla Port

D. Ashuganj Port & Mongla Port

• India and Bangladesh launched the inaugural trial movement of vessels between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh on February 12. Operating on Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Route no. 5 & 6, the waterway from Maia to Dhubri via Aricha is expected to cut the distance by approximately 930 kilometers, aligning with the Act East Policy’s commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and trade efficiency.

24. What is the theme of World Radio Day 2024?

A. Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating

B. Radio and Trust

C. Radio and Diversity

D. Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace

• World Radio Day is celebrated on February 13th, and 2024 will be the 11th edition of the event. The theme for World Radio Day 2024 is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating”. This theme is meant to highlight the history of radio and its influence on many areas, including news, music, sports, and drama. The theme also emphasizes radio’s ongoing evolution in a digital age.