Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 15th & 16th August 2023
1. Which Union Ministry released the ‘State of Elementary Education in Rural India’ report?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Rural Development
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Women and Child Development
Answer: [A] Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister releases the first ‘State of Elementary Education in Rural India’ report. The study was focused on children in rural communities between the age of 6 to 16 years from 6,229 rural households across 20 states. As per the report, 78 per cent parents of girls in rural areas want to educate their children to graduation and above and 82 per cent parents of boys in rural areas want to educate their children.
2. Mediation Bill, 2023, aims to cut down the time to complete the mediation proceedings to how many days?
[A] 90 days
[B] 120 days
[C] 180 days
[D] 270 days
Answer: [C] 180 days
The Mediation Bill, 2023 has been recently passed by the Rajya Sabha. It aims to cut down the time to complete the mediation proceedings to 180 days. The bill halves the time for completing mediation proceedings. Under the other key recommendation of the Parliamentary committee accepted by the government, pre- litigation mediation has been made voluntary instead of mandatory.
3. Which state granted 32% quota for tribals in schools?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Gujarat
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Jharkhand
Answer: [C] Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh state cabinet decided that the admission process in educational institutions would be completed under the existing system of 58% reservation instead of the previous 50% roster. The Supreme Court passed an order, which stayed a high court decision that invalidated a 2012 state government order to implement a 58% reservation in government job appointments and admissions in educational institutions.
4. Who is the head of the ail-woman panel appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee relief in Manipur?
[A] Justice Ruth Bader Ginburg
[B] Justice Sonia Sotomayor
[C] Justice Gita Mittal
[D] Justice Gyan Sudha Misra
Answer: [C] Justice Gita Mittal
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud announced in open court that the Supreme Court will appoint an all-women committee of three former High Court judges to oversee relief in Manipur. The committee will be headed by Justice Gita Mittal, a former Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court.
5. India’s Defence Ministry has decided to replace Microsoft Operating System with which Operating system?
[A] Maya
[B] macOS
[C] kuku
[D] Haiku
Answer: [A] Maya
India’s Defence Ministry has decided to replace Microsoft Operating System (0S) in all its Computers that can connect to the Internet with Maya. Maya, which has been developed by Indian government agencies within six months, and is aimed at preventing malware attacks by cybercriminals. The new OS will be backed by a protection system called Chakravyuh.
6. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Indian Web Browser Development Challenge’?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Answer: [B] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launches Indian Web Browser Development Challenge. Challenge is spearheaded by MeitY, Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Bangalore. It aims to empower technology enthusiasts across the country to create an indigenous web browser with its own trust store, with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate and enhanced security & data privacy protection features.
7. Which country has released drafts rules for using facial recognition technology?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] UK
[D] USA
Answer: [B] China
China’s cyberspace regulator said that it has issued draft rules to oversee the security management of facial recognition technology in the country, after concerns raised in public about overuse of the technology. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said facial recognition technology can only be used to process facial information when there is a specific purpose and sufficient necessity and with strict protective measures.
8. Belém declaration, which was seen in the news, is associated with which summit?
[A] ASEAN Summit
[B] G-20 Summit
[C] Amazon Summit
[D] BIMSTEC Summit
Answer: [C] Amazon Summit
Eight Amazon nations that share the Amazon basin, agreed to a list of unified environmental policies and measures to promote regional cooperation, in the Brazilian city of Belém for the Amazon summit. They agreed to launch an alliance to protect the Amazon, and to combat deforestation but failed to agree on a common goal for ending deforestation. The summit brought together the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) for the first time in 14 years. The joint statement, named the Belém declaration was also released.
9. How many medals were clinched by India in the World University Games (WUG) 2023?
[A] 26
[B] 32
[C] 45
[D] 51
Answer: [A] 26
India ended its World University Games (WUG) campaign with its best-ever performance, winning a record haul of 26 medals, including 11 gold. India finished at seventh spot with 11 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze, the best ever standing in the medal tally.
10. Who became the fastest Indian cricketer to clinch 50 wickets in T20 Internationals?
[A] Jasprit Bumrah
[B] R Ashwin
[C] Kuldeep Yadav
[D] Ravindra Jadeja
Answer: Kuldeep Yadav
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav became the fastest Indian to clinch 50 wickets in T20 Internationals in terms of number of matches played. Kuldeep achieved the feat in his 30th T201 match for India, surpassing teammate Yuzvendra Chahal, who had 50 T201 wickets in 34 games.
11. Inter-Services Organisation Bill, 2023 vwhich was passed recently, grant full authority over the service personnel to?
[A] The President of India
[B] Commander-in-Chief and the Officer-in Command of ISO
[C] Chief of Defence Staff
[D] Prime Minister of India
Answer: [B] Commander-in-Chief and the Officer- in Command of ISO
Rajya Sabha recently passed the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023. The legislation aims to grant the Commander-in-Chief and the Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) full administrative and disciplinary authority over the service personnel under their command, irrespective of their service.
12. The National Dental Commission Bill aims to create which institution in place of the Dental Council of India (DCI)?
[A] National Dental Commission
[B] National Dental Council
[C] Indian Dental Commission
[D] Indian Dental Council
Answer: [A] National Dental Commission
The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023, has been approved by the Indian Parliament. It aims to implement revolutionary regulatory structure by forming the National Dental Commission (NDC), taking the place of the current Dental Council of India (DCI)) and nullifying the Dentists Bill from 1948.
13. Which Union Ministry has set up ‘Task Forces for the Decarbonization of Steel Sector’?
[A] Ministry of Steel
[B] Ministry of Coal
[C] Ministry of Environment, forest and Climate Change
[D] Ministry of Finance
Answer: [A] Ministry of Steel
The Ministry of Steel has established 13 Task forces, involving various sectors including industry, academia, and other stakeholders, to focus on reducing carbon emissions in the steel industry. One of these Task Forces, dedicated to Skill Development, will address the training and retraining needs of the workforce for producing environmentally-friendly steel, ensuring a smooth transition within the steel sector.
14. Where is the ‘Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy’ located in which city?
[A] Mussoorie
[B] Ghaziabad
[C] New Delhi
[D] Pune
Answer: [B] Ghaziabad
Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy in Ghaziabad became the tenth member of the Interpol Global Academy Network. This inclusion will facilitate the creation and execution of combined training initiatives and research endeavors.
15. Which state has announced plans to construct a 6,134-crore dam at Hathnikund?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Gujarat
Answer: [C] Haryana
The Haryana state government has intended to construct a dam costing Rs 6,134 crore, to avoid another flooding event caused by the Yamuna in Delhi and nearby Haryana regions. This dam will feature a 14-km reservoir and will be situated 4.5 km ahead of the Hathnikund Barrage in the Yamunanagar district.
16. Which city released the ‘National Identity Mark’, to monitor the quality of private schools?
[A] Abu Dhabi
[B] Paris
[C] Colombo
[D] Dhaka
Answer: [A] Abu Dhabi
In May of this year, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) launched the inaugural National Identity Mark. This initiative aims to give parents a clear insight into the quality of national identity programs and associated activities available in private schools throughout the emirate. Phase 1 National Identity Mark results was released recently.
17. Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS) of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission has been extended until?
[A] September 2023
[B] December 2023
[C] March 2024
[D] June 2024
Answer: [B] December 2023
The National Health Authority (NHA) has extended the Digital Health incentives Scheme (DHIS) of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission until December 31, 2023. The scheme offers incentives to hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solution providers to encourage digitization under the ABDM.
18. Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
[C] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[D] Ministry of External Affairs
Answer: [B] Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to remove criminal penalties for violations in coastal aquaculture practices, promoting a more business-friendly environment. The bill aims to broaden its range, address regulatory inconsistencies, and lessen compliance requirements, all while maintaining environmental safeguards in coastal regions.
19. Which country is set to launch ‘BRICS Startup Forum’ in 2023?
[A] Russia
[B] Brazil
[C] India
[D] China
Answer: [C] India
India is gearing up to launch the BRICS Startup Forum in 2023. The forum seeks to foster cooperation and exchange of knowledge among startups, investors, incubators, and budding entrepreneurs. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal made the announcement during the seventh virtual BRICS Industry Ministers’ meeting held in South Africa,
20. Which bank launched India’s first 24×7 Video Banking customer service?
[A] Canara Bank
[B] AU Small Finance Bank
[C] Punjab National Bank
[D] Equitas Small Finance Bank
Answer: [B] AU Small Finance Bank
AU Small Finance Bank has set a new benchmark by introducing India’s first 24×7 Video Banking customer service. This feature offers a digital platform for customers to interact directly with a video banker through real-time video calls, akin to video conferencing.