Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 1st June 2023
1. ‘REWARD Program’ is assisted by which institution in India?
[A] World Bank
[B] WEF
[C] IMF
[D] WTO
Answer: [A] World Bank
Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) program is a World Bank-Assisted Initiative That is being implemented from 2021 to 2026. Its implementation was reviewed recently by Secretary, Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the World Bank team.
2. ‘Atal Bhujal Yojana’, which was seen in the news, is implemented by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of Defence
Answer: [B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
The Atal Bhujal yojana (Atal Jal), a central sector water conservation scheme, will continue for an additional two years beyond its original 2025 end date. It is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The major objective of the Scheme is to improve the management of groundwater resources in select water stressed areas in identified states viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
3. Which Union Ministry unveiled the ‘National Medical Devices Policy, 2023’?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[C] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Answer: [B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 was unveiled recently by India’s Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. He also launched the Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices clusters for Common Facilities (AMD-CF).
4. Who has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Cheetah Project Steering Committee set up by NTCA?
[A] Rajesh Bansal
[B] Jitendra Singh
[C] Ashwini Vaishnaw
[D] Gagandeep Singh Bedi
Answer: [A] Rajesh Bansal
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted an 11-member Cheetah Project Steering Committee. Rajesh Bansal, the Secretary General of Global Tiger Forum, has been appointed as its Chairman, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement.
5. XPoSat, India’s first polarimetry mission, is being built by which institution?
[A] HAL
[B] DRDO
[C] ISRO
[D] BARC
Answer: [C] ISRO
XPoSat (X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first polarimetry mission. It is currently being built by ISRO and Raman Research Institute. According to ISRO, “XPoSat will study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions” and will carry two payloads. It is only the world’s second polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
6. What is ‘Acinetobacter baumannii’, which was seen in the news?
[A] Cryptocurrency
[B] Malware
[C] Bacteria
[D] Animal species
Answer: [C] Bacteria
Acinetobacter baumannii, the multidrug-resistant bacteria, is a red alert pathogen notorious for its ability to resist many antibiotics. Researchers have used machine-learning to identify a potential new antibiotic named Abaucin, against a challenging species of disease-causing bacteria.
7. A ‘New Replenishment Mechanism for Flexible Funding’ has been proposed for which organization?
[A] WHO
[B] NSIL
[C] DRDO
[D] NITI Aayog
Answer: [A] WHO
During the 76th World Assembly Health session, WHO member states discussed on a new replenishment mechanism to help the UN body have more flexible funding options. It will help WHO become more financial independent and function smoothly as the leading global health coordinator. Replenishment contributions would cover work by country offices, regional offices, and headquarters across all strategic priorities, as well as the enabling functions.
8. ‘Gateway to the Underworld’ is an artefact belonging to which country?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Mexico
[D] Australia
Answer: [C] Mexico
The ancient Olmec artefact known as “Gateway to the Underworld” has been returned to Mexico from the US five decades after it was stolen. The piece, officially known as Monument 9 of Chalcatzingo, is considered Mexico’s most sought-after piece from the ancient Olmec civilization.
9. Which institution released the Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing units?
[A] NGT
[B] CPCB
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] NAEB
Answer: [B] CPCB
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently released the Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing units. The guidelines are based on the recommendations of the New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment. CPCB is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
10. Which Union Ministry has granted Rs 45.34 crore to Unani medicine research and development bodies?
[A] Ministry of AYUSH
[B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[C] Ministry of Minority Affairs
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Answer: [C] Ministry of Minority Affairs
Unani or Arabian medicine is a comprehensive approach to promoting natural healing and overall wellness, originating from ancient Greek principles developed millennia ago. For the first time, the Minority Affairs Ministry granted Rs. 45.34 crore to two Unani medicine research and development bodies under the AYUSH ministry.
11. Which Asian country released its ‘National Climate Research agenda’?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Answer: [A] India
India’s National Climate Research agenda was released during the inauguration of the 2-day International Climate Research Conclave. It was organised at Department of Science and Technology’s Centre of Excellence in Climate Studies at IIT Bombay. Its aim is to coordinate national efforts focusing on the understanding and addressing climate change by 2030 and
beyond.
12. Which company will operate and maintain Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro’s line 3, Mumbai’s first fully underground corridor?
[A] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
[B] Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation
[C] Chennai Metro Rail Corporation
[D] Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
Answer: [A] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro’s line 3 is Mumbai’s first fully underground corridor. It will be operated and maintained by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The contract has been awarded to DMRC for a duration of 10 years for the operation and maintenance of the metro line.
13. Which institutions released the ‘Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plain’?
[A] ISRO and Indian Air Force
[B] ISRO and Indian Navy
[C] ISRO and Indian Army
[D] ISRO and NSIL
Answer: [B] ISRO and Indian Navy
The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Organisation (ISRO) have released the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at INS Garuda in Kochi. It provides a training plan for recovery of the Crew Module of the Gaganyaan Mission. The Crew Module Recovery Model was also formally handed over to the Indian Navy.
14. Daam, which was seen in the news, is a?
[A] Bacteria
[B] Malware
[C] Super computer
[D] Cryptocurrency
Answer: [B] Malware
The Indian government has recently issued an advisory against the malware called Daam. This virus is capable of hacking call records, contacts, history and camera. The national cyber security agency advisory has warned that the ‘Daam’ virus is capable of bypassing anti-virus programs and deploying ransomware on the targeted devices.
15. Census 2021, which was postponed due to COVID-19, include options for how many religions?
[A] Four
[B] SIX
[C] Eight
[D] Ten
Answer: [B] Six
The Next Census will only count Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain as distinct religion options. This is despite demands from several sections including Sarnaism, the Lingayat religion, to be counted as a separate religion. Census 2021, which was to be conducted in two phases, has been postponed indefinitely, with the Central government initially attributing the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic.
16. Who chairs the governing council meeting of NITI Aayog?
[A] NITI Aayog CEO
[B] Prime Minister
[C] Finance Minister
[D] Supreme Court Chief Justice
Answer: [B] Prime Minister
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, at New Delhi. It was attended by Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors representing 19 States and 6 UTS. HE urged the Centre, States and UTS should work as Team India and fulfil the dreams and aspirations of people for a Viksit Bharat at 2047.
17. ‘SriKrishnan Harihara Sarma’ has been appointed as the MD and CEO of which bank?
[A] Yes Bank
[B] IDBI Bank
[C] Karnataka Bank
[D] HDFC Bank
Answer: [C] Karnataka Bank
Karnataka Bank appoints Srikrishnan Harihara Sarma as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO). Sarma has nearly four decades of experience spread across Commercial, Retail, and Transactional Banking, Technology and Payments. He was part of the founding management team at HDFC Bank Ltd for over nine years.
18. RBI has recently sanctioned the merger of which Co-op banks?
[A] Cosmos Co-op and Maratha Co-op
[B] Saraswat Co-op and Cosmos Co-op
[C] Bharat Co-op and Maratha Co-op
[D] SVC Bank and Maratha Co-op
Answer: [A] Cosmos Co-op and Maratha Co-op
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sanctioned the merger of Maratha Co-op Bank with Cosmos Co-op Bank. The Scheme has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred under Sub- Section (4) of Section 44A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. All branches of Maratha Sahakari Bank will function as branches of The Cosmos Co-operative Bank.
19. India has moved WTO dispute panel over which import duties?
[A] Information and communication technologies (ICT)
[B] Plastic Products
[C] Petroleum Products
[D] Manufactured Goods
Answer: [A] Information and communication technologies (ICT)
India has moved WTO dispute panel over Information and communication technologies (ICT) import duties. The WTO’s apex dispute resolution body, the Appellate Body, hasn’t been functional for nearly two years due to America’s blockage on appointment of judges.
20. Saudi Arabia announced to restore full diplomatic ties with country?
[A] UAE
[B] Canada
[C] Australia
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer: [B] Canada
Saudi Arabia and Canada to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, bringing an end to a dispute from 2018. The rift between the two countries began when Canada’s embassy in Riyadh published a tweet in Arabic, calling for the immediate release of women’s rights activists who were detained in Saudi Arabia.