Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 16th February 2024

1. What is ‘Cuscuta dodder’?

A. Invasive weed

B. Fish

C. Virus

D. Spider

• Cuscuta dodder, an invasive weed native to North America, is threatening Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, endangering local ecology and migratory bird habitats. This parasitic vine lacks roots, infesting acres of trees in reserve forests and penetrating India’s oldest bird sanctuary. Found on Barringtonia trees crucial for bird nesting, it forms dense canopies before strangling and killing hosts.

2. Recently, which country won the 9th GovTech Prize for AI Powered Government Services at the World Government Summit 2024?

A. UAE

B. India

C. Qatar

D. Turkey

• India won the 9th GovTech Prize at the 2024 World Government Summit in Dubai for its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing government services. The award recognizes the Government of India’s Ministry for Road Transport and Highways’ transformative project, iRASTE. The Emirates Government Service Excellence Program (EGSEP) manages the annual GovTech Prize and the “M-Gov Award”.

3. Which state government has officially declared kaji nemu (Citrus limon) as the state fruit?

A. Nagaland

B. Manipur

C. Assam

D. Sikkim

• Assam’s state government designates Kaji Nemu (Citrus limon), a distinctive lemon variety native to the region, as the official ‘State Fruit.’ State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora announced the decision, highlighting the fruit’s cultural, traditional and nutritional importance to the state and its people.

4. Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is associated with which initiative?

A. Pragati Scholarship

B. One nation, One Student ID

C. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

D. Samara Siksha

• The Ministry of Education has created 25 crore APAAR IDs in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 and National Credit and Qualifications Framework. The initiative, ‘One nation, One Student ID,’ assigns a unique 12-digit ID to each student, streamlining academic records. This system minimizes fraud and duplicates, offering a reliable reference for educational institutions, thus ensuring a unified academic experience for students.

5. Usha Kiran Khan, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?

A. Sports

B. Politics

C. Literature

D. Medicine

• Renowned author Usha Kiran Khan, aged 78, passed away after a brief illness. A Padma Shri recipient in 2015, Khan earned various literary honors, such as the Sahitya Akademi Award, Mahadevi Verma Award, Dinakar National Award and Bharat-Bharati.

6. How many units of free electricity per month are provided under the recently launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?

A. 300

B. 200

C. 400

D. 500

• The Prime Minister of India launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a ₹75,000 crore initiative providing 300 units of free electricity per month to 1 crore households. The scheme promotes rooftop solar systems through incentives to Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats. Benefits include annual savings, electric vehicle charging, entrepreneurship, and job opportunities in solar-related fields.

7. Hori Habba is associated with which state?

A. Rajasthan

B. Kerala

C. Manipur

D. Karnataka

• Casualties during Hori Habba, a bull-taming sport in Karnataka, spark concerns over animal and human safety. Similar events like Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Kambala in coastal Karnataka, Rooster fights in Andhra Pradesh, Bulbul fights in Assam, and Bullock Cart Races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu face scrutiny for their association with gambling and potential risks to participants and animals.

8. The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple was recently inaugurated in which city of UAE?

A. Abu Dhabi

B. Dubai

C. Ajman

D. Kalba

• On February 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir in Abu Dhabi. BAPS, a socio-spiritual Hindu faith rooted in the Vedas, was formally established in 1907 CE. It promotes practical spirituality and addresses spiritual, moral, and social challenges. BAPS followers adhere to five lifetime vows, and the organization is involved in global humanitarian activities, education, women’s development, and holds NGO status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

9. Recently, AIIMS New Delhi and the University of Liverpool signed an agreement for which research?

A. Cancer

B. AIDS

C. Diabetes

D. Tuberculosis

• The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the University of Liverpool have signed a Collaboration Agreement for the ‘AIIMS Liverpool Collaborative Centre for Translational Research in Head and Neck Cancer (ALHNS)’.
• This collaboration aims to advance medical innovation and personalized cancer treatments. The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, aligns with the country’s vision of affordable and accessible healthcare for all citizens.

10. Which one of the following city will have the world’s first air taxi?

A. New Delhi

B. Dubai

C. London

D. Abu Dhabi

• Dubai has made history by unveiling plans for the world’s first air taxi service at the World Government Summit 2024. The city will pioneer a city-wide electric aerial taxi service using Joby Aviation S4, accommodating four passengers and a pilot. Set to launch in 2026, this initiative represents Dubai’s commitment to sustainable and accessible urban transportation.

11. National Generic Document Registration System is initiated by which ministry?

A. Ministry of Home Affairs

B. Ministry of Rural Development

C. Ministry of Corporate Affairs

D. Ministry of Tourism

• The National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) were launched in Assam by the Secretary, Department of Land Resources. Initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, NGDRS is a common application for registration departments nationwide.
• Developed by the National Informatics Centre Pune, it offers a user-friendly interface for online land buying, property valuation, and document submission, reducing the need for multiple visits to the sub-registrar’s office.

12. Bubonic Plague is an infectious disease caused by which one of the following?

A. Bacteria

B. Virus

C. Fungi

D. Helminths

• Bubonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, commonly found in small mammals and fleas. Named the Black Death, it killed millions in the Middle Ages. Symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal, arm, and leg pains, and swollen lymph nodes. Spread by fleas, it has a case-fatality ratio of 30-60% but can be treated with antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline.