Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 16th April 2024

1. Where is the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park being established?

A. Tamil Nadu

B. Gujarat

C. Rajasthan

D. Odisha

• Adani Green Energy Limited, a part of the Adani Group, is constructing the world’s largest renewable energy park in Khavda, Gujarat’s Kutch district. It spanning 538 square kilometers. With a planned capacity of 30 GW and an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore, it currently produces 2 GW, set to expand to 6 GW by March 2025. It aiming to generate 81 billion units.

2. Which country has signed USD 375 million deal with India in defence sector?

A. Philippines

B. Vietnam

C. Egypt

D. Malaysia

• India will deploy defense attaches in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Philippines, Armenia, and Poland to bolster strategic ties. This initiative aligns with India’s goal to expand global partnerships amid rising geopolitical tensions. Notably, India aims to strengthen defense relations with the Philippines to counter China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. Recent deals include a USD 375 million agreement for BrahMos missiles.

3. What is the theme of ‘International Day of Human Space Flight 2024’?

A. Encouraging Scientific Curiosity

B. Way for Space

C. Conservation of Outer Space

D. Beginning of the Space Era for Mankind

• International Day for Human Space Flight (IDHSF) is celebrated annually on April 12, honoring Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space in 1961. The UNGA declared it in 2011 to advocate for peaceful space exploration. In 2024, the theme is “Encouraging Scientific Curiosity” to foster outer space exploration’s peaceful advancement.

4. Recently, who has been appointed as the first woman high commissioner to India by Britain?

A. Lilly Gunasekar

B. Lindy Cameron

C. Alicia Herbert

D. Gill Atkinson

• Lindy Cameron, an Oxford alumna and former CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, becomes the first female high commissioner to India. This historic appointment highlights UK-India relations, coinciding 70 years after India appointed its first high commissioner to London.

5. ‘Dustlik’ joint military exercise conducted between which two countries?

A. India and Uzbekistan

B. India and Russia

C. India and Tajikistan

D. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

• The 5th edition of the ‘Dustlik’ joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan begins on April 15 in Termez, Uzbekistan. Running for 14 days until April 28, it aims to enhance cooperation and future military ties between the two nations.
• Through training programmes, the exercise fosters mutual understanding and strengthens their relationship by sharing operational methodologies. This collaborative effort will significantly boost defence cooperation and deepen bilateral military engagement.

6. Queqiao-2, a relay satellite, recently launched by which country?

A. Russia

B. Japan

C. India

D. China

• China National Space Administration (CNSA) declared the Queqiao-2 satellite launch a “complete success”. Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge 2, weighs 1,200 kg and features a 4.2-meter parabolic antenna, facilitating communications between Earth and lunar probes until 2030.

7. Khavda Renewable Energy Park is located in which state?

A. Gujarat

B. Rajasthan

C. Maharashtra

D. Odisha

• Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) established the world’s largest renewable energy park in Gujarat’s Khavda region. Spanning 538 square kilometers, it boasts a 45 GW capacity, primarily solar-powered. Khavda, in Gujarat’s Kutch region, features exceptional solar radiation and wind speeds. Located near the Pakistan border, it’s patrolled by the Border Security Force. AGEL invests Rs 1.5 lakh crore to generate 30 MW of clean electricity, with 81 billion units projected.

8. PACE Satellite was launched by which space agency?

A. NASA

B. ISRO

C. JAXA

D. CNSA

• NASA’s PACE satellite, launched into Sun-synchronous orbit, now shares high-quality Earth observation data publicly. Equipped with the Ocean Colour Instrument (OCI), alongside polarimeters SPEXone and HARP2, it enhances aerosol, cloud, and ocean research. OCI’s broad spectral range aids in phytoplankton identification. This data facilitates studies on oceanic life, air particles, fisheries health, algal blooms, pollution, and climate change impacts on the atmosphere and oceans, advancing scientific understanding.

9. Which organization recently developed a sustainable hydrogel to remove microplastics from water?

A. Defence Research and Development Organization

B. Indian Institute of Science

C. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research

D. Indian Space Research Organization

• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) developed a novel hydrogel to remove microplastics from water. This hydrogel, with a unique polymer network, binds and degrades microplastics using UV light. It comprises three polymer layers: chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline, combined with copper substitute polyoxometalate nanoclusters acting as catalysts. Microplastics, typically less than 5mm, are categorized as primary (from commercial products) and secondary (resulting from larger plastic breakdown due to environmental factors).

10. Recently, which institution has issued a drug safety alert over the use of the anti-inflammatory drug Nimesulide?

A. ICMR

B. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission

C. Indian Veterinary Research Institute

D. Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences

• The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) issued a safety alert regarding Nimesulide, an anti-inflammatory drug. IPC, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, updates drug standards regularly. It publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), setting standards for drug identity, purity, and strength for human and animal healthcare.

11. What is the primary objective of Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)?

A. Limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels

B. Promoting organic farming in North India

C. Promoting sustainable exploration of marine resources

D. To promote corporate social responsibility

• The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), established in 2015, supports companies in setting Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. SBTi verifies targets independently, ensuring alignment with the latest climate science. It distinguishes between near- and long-term goals, essential for significant progress by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

12. How much tree cover has India lost since 2000, according to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project?

A. 3.13 million hectares

B. 1.23 million hectares

C. 3.25 million hectares

D. 2.33 million hectares

• Since 2000, India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover, as per Global Forest Watch (GFW). GFW, an initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI), utilizes satellite data to monitor forests globally in near real-time. GFW primarily references tree cover for assessing forest extent, loss, and gain.