Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 14th April 2023
1. How many states are in the Front Runner category of the ‘State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22’?
[A] Three
[B] Five
[C] Seven
[D] Ten
Answer: [B] Five
State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 was developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy. In SEEI 2021-22, 5 states-Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana – are in the Front Runner category (>60 points) while 4 states are in the Achiever category. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state groups. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.
2. ‘Milius is a guided missile destroyer of which country’s Navy?
[A] India
[B] Russia
[C] USA
[D] UK
Answer: [C] USA
USS Milius is a guided missile destroyer of the US Navy. Recently, it conducted an operation to assert navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands. The US Navy destroyer’s operation occurred while the Chinese military exhibited its power for the third consecutive day around Taiwan.
3. India highlighted the significance of UNCLOS along with which country?
[A] Vietnam
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Answer: [A] Vietnam
The United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which was adopted in 1982, governs world’s oceans and seas. India and Vietnam recently highlighted the significance of UNCLOS and reiterated their commitment to resolve any disputes based on this international law.
4. ‘Cyber Surakshit Bharat’ is the initiative of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Answer: [A] Ministry of Electronics and IT
Cyber Surakshit Bharat is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) that seeks to spread awareness about cyber-crime and strengthen capacities of frontlime IT officials and chief information security officers across all government departments. Under this initiative, the National E-Governance Division (NeGD) is organizing the 35th Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) Deep-Dive training programme.
5. Melolontha arunachalensis, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Beetle
[C] Butterfly
[D] Snake
Answer: [B] Beetle
Two new species of beetle were found in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and they were named Melolontha lachugensis and Melolontha aunachalensis. These two new beetle species have been discovered in India after 127 years in the genus Melolontha, bringing the total number of Indian species to 12.
6. UIDAI has partnered with which institution for ‘National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security’ initiative?
[A] IIT Bombay
[B] IIT Madras
[C] NIT Tiruchirappalli
[D] NIT Warangal
Answer: [A] Bombay
‘Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to develop a robust touchless biometric capture system for easier usage by people anytime, anywhere. As part of the memorandum of understanding, UIDAI and IIT Bombay will carry out joint research to build a mobile capture system for fingerprints along with liveness model integrated with the capture system.
7. Which country has recently passed ‘Anti-Terrorism Bill’ to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] USA
[C] Australia
[D] Afghanistan
Answer: [A] Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Anti-Terrorism Bill was introduced recently to replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act. There has been immense international pressure, including from the UN Human Rights Council, on Sri Lanka to repeal the 1978 law. It provides the police with broad powers to search, arrest and detain suspects. The proposed legislation is facing criticism due to its broad definition of terrorist act.
8. The UN Democracy Fund was founded in which year?
[A] 1992
[B] 2003
[C] 2005
[D] 2010
Answer: [C] 2005
At the World Summit during the UN General Assembly in September 2005, USA and India co-sponsored a fund-raising event for UNDEF. Majority of this fund goes to the local civil society organizations. It gives grants to NGOs funded by George Soros, while he is put on the watchlist in India.
9. Which country manufactures the ‘Spike Anti-Tank Missiles’?
[A] USA
[B] Israel
[C] Russia
[D] Ukraine
Answer: [B] Israel
Spike Anti-Tank Missiles is a fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile and anti-personnel missile developed by Israel. Israel signed a defense deal with Greece to provide it with over USD 400 million worth of Spike anti-tank missiles. According to Rafael, the missiles can be launched from around 45 different platforms, on land, in the air, and at sea.
10. Which Union Ministry is associated with the draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’?
[A] Ministry of Power
[B] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
[C] Ministry of Coal
[D] Ministry of Steel
Answer: [B] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’ was released recently by the Indian Government. It seeks to nurture start-ups and other entities to co-create the future of India’s growing maritime sector. The Draft policy seeks the creation of digital Portal based selection of startups ensuring a transparent process.
11. Which city is the host of the ‘Third Regional Symposium on Greening the Judiciaries’?
[A] New York
[B] Nairobi
[C] New Delhi
[D] Dhaka
Answer: [B] Nairobi
The Third Regional Symposium on Greening the Judiciaries in Africa was organized by the Africa Judicial Education Network on Environmental Law (AJENEL) in Nairobi, Kenya. It was held based on the theme ‘Strengthening the Role of Judiciaries in Addressing Climate Change in Africa’.
12. ‘Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)’ is associated with which association?
[A] ASEAN
[B] G-20
[C] EU
[D] ISA
Answer: [C] EU
Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union Space Programme. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is one of the six thematic services provided by the Copernicus Programme. According to C3S, March 2023 witnessed variations on several meteorological fronts.
13. Which country has developed the ‘Meraj 532’ suicide drone?
[A] Israel
[B] UAE
[C] Iran
[D] USA
Answer: [C] Iran
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has developed a new domestically-build suicide drone which can destroy targets within a range of kilometers. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), dubbed Me’raj 532, has a piston engine has a one-way range of 450 kilometers. The kamikaze drone was designed and manufactured by young Iranian experts.
14. Which state/UT has organized the ‘Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023’?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Answer: [B] Jammu and Kashmir
Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023 will be organized by Jammu’s Directorate of Tourism. The event celebrates Dogra culture and heritage. Baisakthi, alsoknown as Vaisakhi, is one of the harvest festivals celebrated in India and in parts of the world largely by the Sikh community.
15. Which institution regulates the ‘Core Investment Companies’?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] NSE
[D] PFRDA
Answer: [B] RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates the Core Investment Companies. Core Investment Companies are specialized NBFC’s that are involved in the business of acquisition of shares and securities. The RBI has simplified the process of applying for registration of CICs, reducing the number of documents to be furnished from 52 to 18.
16. Which state has passed a resolution which asks the Centre to set time limit for Governor for clearing Bills?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] West Bengal
[D] Rajasthan
Answer: [B] Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister M.K.Stalin urging the Union Government and President Droupadi Murmu to issue appropriate instructions to Governor R.N.Ravi, to give his assent to Bills passed by the Assembly, within a specific period. In January 2023, the Assembly moved a resolution disapproving of the Governor’s selective deviation from the prepared text, of his customary address to the House.
17. What is the rate of interest payable in General Provident Fund (GPF) for the April to June 2023 quarter?
[A] 7.1%
[B] 7.3%
[C] 7.5 %
[D] 8.1 %
Answer: [A] 7.1 %
The government has retained the interest rate payable on savings in General Provident Fund (GPF) at 7.1% for the April to June 2023 quarter. Interest rates on General Provident Fund (GPF) are revised periodically according to the government’s issued notifications.
18. Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar launched ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in which country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Uganda
Answer: [D] Uganda
Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar launched ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ of Varanasi during his visit to Uganda’s Kampala. Uganda was endorsed to chair the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of Africa for the period from 2022 to 2025.
19. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), which country reported its death from H3N8 bird flu?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Bangladesh
[D] South Korea
Answer: [A] China
China has reported the first death from H3N8 bird flu, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Chinese woman was the first person to die from a type of bird flu that is rare in humans, but the strain does not appear to spread between peoples.
20. Which Indian chess player has won the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania?
[A] R Praggnanandhaa
[B] D Gukesh
[C] Arjun Erigaisi
[D] Nihal Sarin
Answer: [B] D Gukesh
Teenaged Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh stupped former rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania. The 16-year-old Indian won in a field that included former world classical champion Vladmir, Kramnik, Daniil Dubov, Yangyi Yu (China), Vidit Gujrathi and Karthikeyan Murali (both India) and Param Maghsoodloo (Iran), apart from Abdusattorov.