Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 17th & 18th September 2023

1. India handed over the G-20 Presidency to which country?

[A] Indonesia

[B] Sri Lanka

[C] Brazil

[D] UAE

Answer: [C] Brazil

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel to Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, initiating the process of transition of the President’s Chair for the next round of the G-20 in Brazil. Brazil officially will take over the mantle of the presidency on December 1 this year. Modi also proposed a virtual session of the G20 around the end of November to take stock of the suggestions and decisions made at the leaders’ summit.

2. Which North-Indian state has unveiled its new State Education Policy, 2023?

[A] Uttarkhand

[B] Assam

[C] West Bengal

[D] Uttar Pradesh

Answer: [C] West Bengal

The West Bengal government has come up with the State Education Policy, 2023, which recommends a three-language formula for Classes 5 to 8, with emphasis on Bengali. The committee also recommends that Bangla [Bengali] as a subject may be introduced from Class 1 to Class 10 for students of other mediums of instruction.

3. What is L-1, specified in the Aditya-L1 observatory?

[A] First Sun-Earth Lagrangian point

[B] First Sun-Moon Lagrangian point

[C] First Moon-Earth Lagrangian point

[D] First Space-Earth Lagrangian point

Answer: [A] First Sun-Earth Lagrangian point

Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space-based observatory to study the Sun from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from the Earth. The first, second and third earth-bound manoeuvre was successfully performed on September 3, 5 and 10 respectively. The manoeuvres are being performed during the spacecraft’s 16-day journey around the Earth during which the spacecraft will gain the necessary velocity for its further journey to L1.

4. Nifty 50 hits which mark for the first time, on the following day of the G20 Summit?

[A] 10000 mark

[B] 15000 mark

[C] 20000 mark

[D] 25000 mark

Answer: [C] 20,000 mark

Nifty 50 hits the 20,000 mark for the first time, on the following day of the G20 Summit. The benchmark advanced for the seventh straight day against the backdrop of the G20 summit. Forty-six of its components advanced, with Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and Adani Ports & SEZ being the top contributors to the gains. The journey from 19,000 to 20,000 took 52 sessions.

5. Which state implements the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (women’s basic income) scheme?

[A] Kerala

[B] Tamil Nadu

[C] Odisha

[D] Karnataka

Answer: [B] Tamil Nadu

On the birth anniversary of Dravidian icon CN Annadurai 15 September, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched 1,000 monthly financial assistance scheme for women. The state identified 1.06 crore women who will benefit from the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (women’s basic income) scheme.

6. Which public sector unit’s subsidiary has signed MoU with Nayara Energy to explore opportunities in the Green Hydrogen?

[A] GAIL

[B] NTPC

[C] BHEL

[D] BEL

Answer: [B] NTPC

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly- owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited and Nayara Energy, a new-age international downstream Energy Company of International scale, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to explore opportunities in the Green Hydrogen and Green Energy space. The MoU envisages to collaborate and produce Green Hydrogen for Nayara Energy’s captive usage, accelerate decarbonisation and catalyse reduction in carbon footprint.

7. Which cricketer surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the opener with most number of centuries?

[A] David Warner

[B] Virat Kohli

[C] Ravindra Jadeja

[D] Joe Root

Answer: [A] David Warner

Australian batter David Warner surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the opener with the most number of centuries in international cricket. The 36-year-old batter accomplished this milestone against South Africa in the second ODI. This is Warner’s 46th international century, the most by an opener.

8. Election Commissioner Arun Goel visited which country to monitor the 2023 Presidential Election?

[A] Afghanistan

[B] Cambodia

[C] Maldives

[D] Mauritius

Answer: [C] Maldives

A three-member delegation led by Election Commissioner Arun Goel visited the Maldives to monitor the 2023 Presidential Election. The team visited 22 polling stations in Male and Hulhumale to observe the voting process, voter registration, and booth arrangements. The election’s first round did not produce a decisive winner, as neither President Ibrahim Solih nor opposition candidate Mohammed Muizzu secured over 50 percent of the vote.

9. Vithya Ramraj, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?

[A] Athletics

[B] Chess

[C] Cricket

[D] Squash

Answer: [A] Athletics

Tamil Nadu’s Vithya Ramraj has won the women’s 400m in a personal best 52.40s at the Indian Grand Prix-5 athletics in Chandigarh. Himanshi, the fastest quarter-miler in the Asiad relay team with her 51.76s at the recent inter- State Nationals in Bhubaneswar, could only finish 15th overall.

10. Bangladesh signed two bilateral instruments to enhance cooperation in and satellite?

[A] France

[B] Australia

[C] Germany

[D] USA

Answer: [A] France

Bangladesh and France signed two bilateral instruments to enhance cooperation in different fields including infrastructure and satellite. The documents were inked in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and France President. Emmanuel Macron in Dhaka. Macron, the first French president to visit Bangladesh in 33 years, arrived in Dhaka from India after attending the G20 summit in New Delhi.

11. Which country has clinched the SAFF U-16 Championship 2023 title?

[A] India

[B] Bangladesh

[C] Sri Lanka

[D] Pakistan

Answer: [A] India

India’s U-16 team triumphed in the SAFF U-16 Championship 2023, defeating Bangladesh 2-0. Bharat Lairenjam scored a goal in the first half, while Levis Zangminlun sealed the victory with a second-half goal.

12. Which badminton player has won the China Open title?

[A] K Srikanth

[B] Viktor Axelsen

[C] Lakshya Sen

[D] Chirag Shetty

Answer: [B] Viktor Axelsen

Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen clinched his first China Open title after defeating unseeded Lu Guang Zu. His earlier Grand Slam of Super 1000 titles include the All England Open, the Indonesia Open and the Malaysia Open. South Korean top seed An Se Young became the women’s singles champion, beating second seeded Yamaguchi Akane. She landed her ninth title of the year in the women’s singles.

13. Arrobot, which has developed Unmanned Guided Vehicle (UGV) for the Indian armed forces, is from which city?

[A] New Delhi

[B] Hyderabad

[C] Mumbai

[D] Bengaluru

Answer: [B] Hyderabad

A start-up from Hyderabad, Arrobot, has developed an Unmanned Guided Vehicle (UGV) for the armed forces. The vehicle helps them in logistics, surveillance and reconnaissance in difficult terrain and environments. It can carry up to 200 kgs on top, and tug up to 600 kgs with a 30-degree view, and do multiple other functions with additional attachments.

14. American government’s Development finance institution approved investing in which company’s solar cell plant?

[A] Adani Solar

[B] Reliance Industries

[C] Tata Power Solar

[D] Vikram Solar

Answer: [C] Tata Power Solar

The American government’s Development finance institution has approved investing up to $425 million in TP Solar, a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), for the Indian firm’s greenfield solar cell plant in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The 4.3 gigawatt (GW) plant’s first module production is expected by this year’s end. TPREL is a subsidiary of Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies.

15. As per a recent API Survey, what per cent of adults have taken any one of adult vaccines?

[A] 6 %

[B] 16 %

[C] 26 %

[D] 36 %

Answer: [B] 16%

A survey was conducted by the Association of Physicians of India (API) and Ipsos in 16 cities among adults aged 50 years and older. It revealed that although 71% of adults (50 years and above) surveyed were aware of adult vaccination, only 16 % had taken any adult vaccines. It reveals that formal guidelines are not available to enforce adult immunisation.

16. Which country has claimed to have regained control of Black Sea oil platform?

[A] Ukraine

[B] Russia

[C] Belarus

[D] Iran

Answer: [A] Ukraine

Ukrainian forces have regained control of several gas and oil offshore drilling platforms close to Crimea from Russia, Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) has said. The GUR said that Kyiv’s forces had retaken the drilling platforms known as the “Boyko Towers” in a “unique operation”.

17. India has offered to explore direct listing of its businesses on which exchange?

[A] London Stock Exchange

[B] Euro Stoxx 50

[C] TR Canada 50

[D] Shanghai Stock Exchange

Answer: [A] London Stock Exchange

The 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue steered by United Kingdom (UK) Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He announced that he was pleased with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the LSE as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies

18. Which public sector unit has developed its own laptop named ‘SMAASH’?

[A] BEL

[B] C-DAC

[C] ITI Limited

[D] DRDO

Answer: [C] ITI Limited

ITI Limited, a Central PSU under the Union Ministry of Communications, said it had developed its own laptop and “mini PC” that match international quality and performance. The laptop has been named “SMAASH” and it is winning against global brands ITI has partnered with Intel for design and manufacturing.

19. When is the International Day for South- South Cooperation observed?

[A] July 12

[B] August 12

[C] September 12

[D] October 12

Answer: [C] September 12

The International Day for South-South Cooperation is observed on 12 September every year. This year, the theme is ‘Solidarity, Equity and Partnership: Unlocking South-South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGS’. South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries of the South that contributes to their national well-being, their national and collective self-reliance and the attainment of development goals.

20. When is the ‘National Forest Martyrs Day’ observed?

[A] September 9

[B] September 11

[C] September 12

[D] September 14

Answer: [B] September 11

In India, National Forest Martyrs Day is commemorated every year on September 11th. It is a tribute to those who laid down their lives defending the forests and wildlife. The origins of National Forest Martyrs Day date back to 1970, with the tragic event known as the Khejarli massacre that occurred in the Marwar Kingdom of India.