Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 1st April 2023
1. ‘Proba-3 Mission’, which will be launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV, is associated with which space agency?
[A] NASA
[B] ESA
[C] JAXA
[D] CNSA
Answer : [B] ESA
The European Space Agency’s Proba-3 Mission will be launched aboard the ISRO’s PSLV in 2024. Its two satellites will study the Sun’s faint corona and surrounding atmosphere. The 340-kilogram spacecraft will be deployed by PSLV in a high Earth orbit with an orbital period of 19.7 hours.
2. Which institution is to set up the ‘Corporate Debt Market Development Fund’?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NSE
[D] BSE
Answer : [B] SEBI
SEBI decided to set up a corporate debt market development fund in the form of an Alternative Investment Fund Corporate Debt Market Development Fund will be set up with an initial corpus of Rs 3,000 crore. It will function as a backstop facility for buying investment grade corporate debt securities during stressful times.
3. ‘National League for Democracy’ is a famous political party based in which country?
[A] India
[B] Myanmar
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Pakistan
Answer : [B] Myanmar
National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has been dissolved after it refused to comply with a tough new party registration law imposed by Myanmar’s military. The military, which seized power in a coup in February 2021, set a deadline for political parties to re-register under the restrictive new law. It has promised to hold an election, though such a vote has been widely dismissed as lacking in any credibility.
4. ‘Lynx-U2 System’ is an indigenously developed naval gun fire control system, manufactured by which institution?
[A] HAL
[B] DRDO
[C] BEL
[D] BHEL
Answer : [C] BEL
Lynx-U2 System in an indigenously developed naval gun fire control system. The Union Defence Ministry recently signed a contract with BEL for the procurement of 13 of these systems for the Indian Navy. The purchase under the Buy Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) category will be placed on new-gen offshore patrol vessels will to be constructed indigenously at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and Goa Shipyard Limited.
5. World Bank approved 100 million USD loan for implementation of State Capability and Resilient Growth Program of which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Kerala
[C] Goa
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [A] Odisha
The World Bank approved 100 million USD loan for the implementation of the Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Program. This program will help the state strengthen early forecasting system for disaster management and provide social protection coverage for vulnerable households.
6. ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice’ is associated with which country?
[A] USA
[B] Australia
[C] Greece
[D] Italy
Answer : [B] Australia
First Peoples of Australia are people who lived in the Australia’s continental mainland and surrounding islands for tens of tens of thousands of years before the arrival of first Europeans in the early 17th century. A referendum will be issued this year by the Australian government to alter the Constitution to recognize the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. It will decide whether these people should be formally consulted in the law making process.
7. Which company signed deal with Indian Army for procuring ‘Akash Weapon System’?
[A] Bharat Dynamics
[B] BEL
[C] BHEL
[D] DRDO
Answer : [A] Bharat Dynamics
Akash Weapon System is a short-range surface to air missile air defence system. The Indian government has signed a contract to procure this system for the Indian Army. Defence PSU Bharat Dynamics won orders worth over Rs 8,400 crore for production and supply of Akash Weapon System to two regiments of the Indian Army.
8. Which city is the host of the ‘Combined Commanders Conference’?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Bhopal
[C] Gandhi Nagar
[D] Chennai
Answer : [B] Bhopal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. He will also flag off a Vande Bharat Express service to Delhi. Combined Commanders Conference is a biennial event that brings together India’s top military brass to discuss issues related to military and national security.
9. Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of Education Ministry and which bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] HDFC Bank
[C] Canara Bank
[D] ICICI Bank
Answer : [C] Canara Bank
Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of Education Ministry, Government of India and Canara Bank for financing creation of capital assets in premier institutions. A Parliamentary panel has recently directed the Education Ministry to fast tract the process of disbursing sanctioned loans by the HEFA.
10. ‘Chengodumalaensis’ which was recently discovered, belong to which species?
[A] Gecko
[B] Spider
[C] Snake
[D] Turtle
Answer : [A] Gecko
‘Coastal Kerala Geckolla’ is a newly discovered species of ground-dwelling gecko. It is endemic to the low hills and coastal forest in northern Kerala. Chengodumalaensis is a small, nocturnal species that is found on the ground among leaf litter and rocks in forests. Scientists have discovered the new species of ground-dwelling gecko, from the coastal forests of northern Kerala.
11. Which country’s company ALE, has planned to create an ‘Artificial Meteor Shower’?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Japan
[D] Australia
Answer : [C] Japan
The ALE, a Japanese company, is currently planning to create an “Artificial Meteor Shower”. The meteor shower will be created using pressure driven system of gas tanks. ALE is sending satellites into space to create the world’s first human-made meteor shower. It is named ‘Sky Canvas’ and the project was initially scheduled for launch in 2020. It was delayed due to a satellite malfunction.
12. Which country passed ‘Safeguard Mechanism’ to force coal mines and oil refineries to minimize emissions?
[A] Australia
[B] USA
[C] Germany
[D] Italy
Answer : [A] Australia
Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism, which was passed recently by the country’s parliament, will force coal mines and oil refineries to minimize emissions by around 4 percent each year. It is part of the efforts taken by the government to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
13. Which country signed the ‘Decree on Spring Conscription’?
[A] India
[B] USA
[C] Russia
[D] Ukraine
Answer : [C] Russia
Russia’s Decree on Spring Conscription was signed by President Vladimir Putin recently. The spring conscription campaign is calling 147,000 Russian citizens up for statutory military service. Last September Putin signed an order calling up 120,000 people for the autumn campaign.
14. The ‘Foundational Literacy and numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT)’ is organized under which program?
[A] Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
[B] New India Literacy Programme
[C] Scheme of Vocational Education
[D] National Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme
Answer : [B] New India Literacy Programme
The first ‘Foundational Literacy and numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT)’ is organized under Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme). The Test was held across 10 States and UTs in the country to assess the basic Reading, Writing and Numeracy skills of the neo-literates.
15. ‘Jang Palpung Zangdok Palri Monastery’ is situated in which state?
[A] Assam
[B] Sikkim
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Karnataka
Answer : [C] Arunachal Pradesh
Jang Palpung Zangdok Palri Monastery is situated in Tawang district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This Buddhist monastery recently introduced dances of two deities Palden Lhamo and Gonpo, or Mahakala.
16. Which institution developed a pocket-friendly device to detect milk adulteration in 30 seconds?
[A] IISc Bengaluru
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Delhi
[D] NIT Tiruchirappalli
Answer : [B] IIT Madras
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) paper-based portable device that can detect adulteration in milk within 30 seconds. The test could be even performed at home. It can detect multiple substances commonly used as adulterating agents including Urea, detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate, and salt, among others.
17. What is the estimated amount that the government will borrow for the first half of financial year 2023-24?
[A] Rs 5.55 lakh crore
[B] Rs 8.88 lakh crore
[C] Rs 11.11 lakh crore
[D] Rs 13.33 lakh crore
Answer : [B] Rs 8.88 lakh crore
The Centre plans raise ₹ 8.88 lakh crore through market borrowing in the April – September period of 2023-24 to fund the revenue gap to push economic growth. The Finance Ministry announced this after consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.
18. Which institution decided to ban the practice of individuals having permanent seats on boards of listed companies?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] Niti Aayog
[D] NSE
Answer : [B] SEBI
To ensure more transparency and timely disclosure of material events by listed entities, SEBI decided to amend norms whereby a quantitative threshold will be introduced for determining the materiality of events. The regulator has decided to do away with the practice of individuals having permanent seats on boards of listed companies.
19. What is the percentage fee levied for normal UPI payments, as per NPCI?
[A] 0%
[B] 0.20%
[C] 0.40%
[D] 1.00%
Answer : [A] 0%
As of 2023, there is no fees levied on regular bank-to-bank UPI transactions, as per the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). NPCI, which owns and runs the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), said that it has implemented fees on UPI transactions on only Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) merchant transactions.
20. Which country has recently agreed to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner?
[A] New Zealand
[B] Saudi Arabia
[C] UAE
[D] Egypt
Answer : [B] Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia agrees to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner. Saudi Arabia builds a long-term partnership with China despite U.S. security concerns. The country has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).