Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 1st April 2024

1. Recently, where was the first Nuclear Energy Summit held?

A. New Delhi

B. Brussels

C. Moscow

D. Beijing

• Leaders from 34 countries convened in Brussels for the Nuclear Energy Summit on March 21. Organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgium, the summit aimed to explore strategies for leveraging nuclear power in achieving net-zero emissions and sustainable development goals. Technical panels delved into maximizing nuclear energy’s potential.

2. Recently, who has been appointed as the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA)?

A. Kuldeep Singh

B. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar

C. R S Krishna

D. Sadanand Vasant Date

• The central government recently appointed new Director Generals for key agencies. Sadanand Vasant Date, a 1990 batch IPS officer from Maharashtra, now heads the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Rajeev Kumar Sharma, also from the 1990 batch but from Rajasthan cadre, will oversee the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD).

3. Indian Agriculture Research Institute has demanded legal action against which country for cultivating basmati varieties protected in India?

A. Afghanistan

B. Pakistan

C. Myanmar

D. Bangladesh

• In March 2024, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has urged legal action against Pakistan for cultivating its improved basmati rice varieties without authorization. The IARI has raised concerns that Pakistan is “illegally” growing the varieties, which could endanger India’s $5.5 billion export market. The IARI has found that varieties like Pusa-1121 and 1509 Basmati are grown in Pakistan under new names.

4. Who won women’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 in Beirut, Lebanon?

A. Sreeja Akula

B. Sarah D Nutte

C. Suh Hyo

D. Ayhika Mukherjee

• Sreeja Akula, ranked 47th globally, won the women’s singles title at WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 in Lebanon, defeating Sarah D Nutte of Luxembourg in a thrilling final. The Indian paddler, aged 25, secured victory after coming from behind, with scores of 6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9. Notably, she had beaten top seed Suh Hyo Won of South Korea earlier in the tournament. This marks her second WTT singles career title.

5. Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a project of international collaboration between which two space agencies?

A. JAXA and ISRO

B. CNSA and ROSCOSMOS

C. ESA and NASA

D. CNSA and ISRO

• A scientist recently discovered the 5,000th comet using Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) data. SOHO, a collaboration between ESA and NASA, launched in 1995 to study the Sun from the first Lagrangian Point. Equipped with 12 scientific instruments, it continuously observes the solar atmosphere, helioseismology, and solar wind. Despite its mission ending in 1998, SOHO persists, providing invaluable insights into the Sun’s dynamics and discovering numerous comets.

6. Recently, which ministry notified new wage rates for unskilled manual workers under the MGNREGA, 2005 for FY 2024-2025?

A. Ministry of Rural Development

B. Ministry of Agriculture

C. Ministry of Power

D. Ministry of Home Affairs

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has announced new wage rates for unskilled manual workers under MGNREGA for FY 2024-2025. MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment annually to rural adult household members. MoRD adjusts state-wise wage rates yearly based on CPI-AL changes, as mandated by MGNREGA’s Section 6. This ensures fair compensation for rural laborers, supporting livelihoods in alignment with inflation rates.

7. According to the Brand Finance 2024 report, which is the world’s strongest insurance brand?

A. Oriental General Insurance

B. Life Insurance Corporation of India

C. HDFC Life Insurance

D. Max Life Insurance

• In the 2024 Brand Finance Insurance 100 report, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) maintains its global dominance, solidifying its position as the strongest insurance brand with a stable brand value of Rs 816 billion. Cathay Life Insurance follows closely.
• Meanwhile, Chinese insurers like Ping An, China Life Insurance, and CPIC assert their dominance, with Ping An leading the pack with a significant increase in brand value to Rs 2799 billion, showcasing China’s influence on the international insurance landscape.

8. 2024 – Food Waste Index Report is released by which organization?

A. UNEP

B. UNDP

C. WHO

D. ILO

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released its 3rd Food Waste Index Report in 2024, revealing that in 2022, 1.05 billion metric tonnes of food, 19% of the global supply, were wasted. This waste contrasts starkly with 783 million people experiencing hunger worldwide. The report emphasizes the need to tackle food waste to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. Households are the largest contributors, responsible for 60% of wastage. Annual per capita food wastage is estimated at 79 kg.

9. Recently, Government of India is establishing new atomic clocks at which places?

A. Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore

B. Kozhikode, Cannanore and Wayanad

C. Bengaluru, Bhopal and Lucknow

D. Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur and Hyderabad

• The Indian government is deploying atomic clocks nationwide to ensure all devices align with Indian Standard Time, countering reliance on US-based servers. Developed by only four countries, atomic clocks were invented in 1955. The CSIR-NPL New Delhi is India’s timekeeper, maintaining seven atomic clocks. New clocks are being installed in Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, and Hyderabad, expanding from Faridabad and Ahmedabad.

10. Recently, who was inducted into the World Billiards Museum’s Hall of Fame in Shangrao, China?

A. Geet Siriram Sethi

B. Rudolf Walter Wanderone

C. Earl Strickland

D. Pankaj Advani

• In March 2024, Pankaj Advani, an Indian billiards player, was inducted into the World Billiards Museum’s Hall of Fame in Shangrao, China. Advani was inducted after winning the 26th IBSF title in China. The museum covers 13,500 square meters and offers an overview of snooker’s history, equipment, events, cultural traditions, and people.

11. Tantalum, a rare metal, was recently discovered in which river?

A. Gomti

B. Sutlej

C. Kaveri

D. Godavari

• Traces of tantalum, a rare metal crucial in electronics, were found in the Sutlej River by Indian Institute of Technology, Punjab researchers. Tantalum is vital for capacitors and resistors in devices like smartphones and laptops. Its discovery hints at untapped mineral wealth beneath the riverbed, sparking interest in further exploration. Tantalum’s unique properties make it valuable, potentially impacting various industries and the local economy.

12. Recently, which organization has launched a new network for coronaviruses, CoViNet?

A. World Bank

B. WHO

C. WTO

D. UNICEF

• The World Health Organization (WHO) launched CoViNet, a global network of laboratories specializing in human, animal, and environmental coronavirus surveillance. It aims to detect and monitor emerging coronaviruses, including potential novel strains, enhancing risk assessment and informing WHO policies. CoViNet will expand surveillance capabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to monitor MERS-CoV and other significant coronaviruses.