Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 1st 2nd 3rd May 2023

1. What is the theme of ‘International Girls in ICT Day 2023?

[A] Empower girls

[B] Digital Skill for Life

[C] STEM

[D] Science Skills for Life

Answer: [B] Digital Skills for Life

International Girls in ICT Day’ is observed every year on April 27 to encourage and empower girls and young women to explore and pursue careers in information and communication technology. The theme for this year is ‘Digital Skills for Life’. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) leads the observation every year.

2. Which institution released the “Promoting Millets in Diets’ Report?

[A] NABARD

[B] FCI

[C] NITI Aayog

[D] FSSAI

Answer: [C] NITI Aayog

The report titled “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India” was released recently by NITI Aayog. It provides a set of good and innovative practices that have been adopted by state governments and organizations across the various aspects of the millet value-chain.

3. “Washington Declaration’ is a bilateral agreement that was signed between the US and which country?

[A] Canada

[B] UK

[C] South Korea

[D] Australia

Answer: [C] South Korea

Washington Declaration is a bilateral agreement that was recently signed between the US and South Korea. According to this agreement, while South Korea will not develop its own nuclear weapons, the US will aid in the use of the nuclear weapons in case of potential conflict with North Korea.

4. Which city is the host of the ‘QUAD Summit 2023’?

[A] New Delhi

[B] Sydney

[C] Tokyo

[D] New York

Answer: [B] Sydney

The QUAD Summit 2023 will be organized in Sydney on May 24 this year. This summit will be the third in-person meeting between the leaders of QUAD countries. QUAD group includes the US, Australia, India and Japan. The first two Quad meetings were held in the US and Japan and this is the first time Australia will be hosting the meeting.

5. Which company has been recently upgraded to the status of Navratna CPSE (in May 2023)?

[A] Airports Authority of India

[B] Rail Vikas Nigam Limited

[C] Hindustan Copper Limited

[D] Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited

Answer: [B] Rail Vikas Nigam Limited

Navratna Companies are public sector companies that are given financial autonomy to invest up to Rs.1,000 crore without the Indian government’s approval. The Union Finance Ministry recently upgraded the status of the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) from Category-I Miniratna to Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).

6. ‘Rapid Support Forces’, which was seen in the news, is the paramilitary group of which country?

[A] Sudan

[B] Israel

[C] UAE

[D] Iran

Answer: [A] Sudan

Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group are engaged in armed conflict in the capital, Khartoum, and in other places, raising fears of a civil war. The RSF is commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti or Little Mohamad. He currently holds the position of deputy head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council.

7. ‘Fit for 55 Package’ is associated with which association?

[A] EU

[B] ASEAN

[C] G-20

[D] G-7

Answer: [A] EU

European Union’s ‘Fit for 55 Package’ is a set of proposals to revise and update the European Union Legislation and launch new initiatives to achieve the reduction of carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to a 1990 benchmark. As part of this package, changes were made to the EU’s Emissions Trading System to bring down emissions in the industrial sector.

8. Which institution has launched the liquid nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP) in India?

[A] NITI Aayog

[B] NABARD

[C] IFFCO

[D] FCI

Answer: [C] IFFCO

IFFCO’s liquid nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP) was launched recently by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. 500 ml of nano liquid DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) is equivalent to one bag (50kg) of conventional granular DAP. The commercial sale was launched at Rs 600 per 500 ml bottle while the bag is currently being sold at Rs 1,350. It is expected to increase foodgrain production and curb exports.

9. Which term denotes the ‘extremely luminous and powerful active galactic nucleus’?

[A] Ultra- nucleus

[B] Quasar

[C] Ignition star

[D] Power-nucleus

Answer: [B] Quasar

Quasars are short for “quasi-stellar radio sources”, and they were first discovered six decades ago. They are in supermassive blac holes, at the centre of galaxies. A quasar is an extremely luminous and powerful active galactic nucleus. According to a new study, the collision of two galaxies is likely to ignite a quasar.

10. Which city is the host of the ‘United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues’?

[A] New Delhi

[B] New York

[C] Sydney

[D] London

Answer: [A] New York

The twenty-second session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will takeplace at United Nations Headquarters, New York. United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is the largest annual gathering of indigenous people. The priority theme of the session is: “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach”.

11. Which institution released a report on “Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets’?

[A] FAO

[B] NITI Aayog

[C] ICAR

[D] ICRISAT

Answer: [A] FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released a report titled “Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes”. According to this report, animal food products like meat, eggs and milk can help achieve global nutrition targets.

12. What is the target growth of medical devices industry by 2030, as per the ‘National Medical Devices Policy, 2023’?

[A] 5 billion USD

[B] 25 billion USD

[C] 50 billion USD

[D] 100 billion USD

Answer: [C] 50 billion USD

The National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 was approved recently by the Union Cabinet. The medical devices sector in India is a sunrise sector which is growing at a fast pace. The policy is expected to help the medical devices industry grow from the present 11 billion USD to 50 billion USD by 2030. It also aims to rise India’s share to 10-12% in the global market over the next 25 years.

13. As of 2023, what is the interest rate on deposits made under ‘Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Account’?

[A] 6.5%

[B] 7.5%

[C] 8.0%

[D] 8.5%

Answer: [B] 7.5 %

Union Budget announced the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC), a new small-savings scheme for women and was launched forninvestments from April 1, 2023. The interest rate deposits made under this Program is 7.5% per year. The Union Minister Smriti Irani opened the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) account recently.

14. “Mid-Infrared Instrument’s (MIRI) Medium Resolution Spectroscopy (MRS)’ is associated with which space agency?

[A] NASA

[B] ISRO

[C] JAXA

[D] CERN

Answer: [A] NASA

A mode of the Mid-Infrared Instrument’s (MIRI) Medium Resolution Spectroscopy (MRS) faced some glitches recently. This instrument, which is a part of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, observes light in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

15. ‘Legal Debt Ceiling’ is associated with which country?

[A] USA

[B] Australia

[C] Japan

[D] Indonesia

Answer: [A] USA

The US legal debt ceiling, also known as the borrowing limit, is the legislative limit on the amount of national debt that the US Treasury can incur. It was raised recently after the US House passed a legislation to increase it by 1.5 trillion USD in exchange for spending restrictions.

16. Which country has recorded an increase in cases of ‘Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria’?

[A] India

[B] China

[C] USA

[D] North Korea

Answer: [C] USA

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative, lactose-fermenting bacterium capable of causing destruction to the human and animal lungs. There has been an increase in the number of cases of individuals infected with the Klebsiella pneumoniae in Seattle, US.

17. Which country has developed ‘T-14 Armata battle tank’?

[A] USA

[B] Russia

[C] France

[D] Italy

Answer: Russia

T-14 Armata battle tank, developed by Russia, has been recently deployed to fire on Ukrainian positions. The T-14 was first unveiled in 2015. It has unmanned turret and its crews can remotely control the armaments. The tanks have a maximum speed on the highway of 80 kilometres per hour.

18. ‘Princess of Asturias award’ is a famous prize conferred in which country?

[A] Spain

[B] Italy

[C] USA

[D] Australia

Answer: [A] Spain

Princess of Asturias award is one of the 8 prizes conferred by the foundation named for Spanish Crown Princess Leonor to recognize achievements the arts, science and other areas. The award was bestowed recently to American actress, Meryl Streep for her performances in a career spanning over 50 years.

19. Which country is supplying Mi-17 helicopter engines and auxiliary spare parts to Pakistan?

[A] China

[B] Pakistan

[C] Russia

[D] Ukraine

Answer: [D] Ukraine

Ukraine is launching the process of supplying the Mi-17 helicopter engines and auxiliary spare parts to Pakistan military. Mi-17 is a Soviet- designed military helicopter used for carrying personnel, cargo and equipment. Pakistan will export three consignments of 155 mm artillery ammunition rounds over the next three months to Ukraine.

20. Which state launched the ‘State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology -SWAGAT’ initiative?

[A] Gujarat

[B] Tamil Nadu

[C] Assam

[D] Odisha

Answer: [A] Gujarat

State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology -SWAGAT initiative was launched by the Gujarat Government in 2003. The SWAGAT Online Programme has four components: the State SWAGAT, District SWAGAT, Taluka SWAGAT and Gram SWAGAT. Prime Minister Modi will address the 20th anniversary of this initiative.