Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 20th & 21st August 2023
1. Matangini Hazra, who was seen in the news, was a woman freedom fighter from which state?
[A] Assam
[B] West Bengal
[C] Karnataka
[D] Odisha
Answer: [B] West Bengal
During her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu paid tributes to women freedom fighters including Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua, who laid down their lives for the country. Matangini from West Bengal vigorously participated in Mahatma Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement, especially the Salt Satyagraha. Matangini Hazra was 73 when she fell to British bullets, while Kanaklata Barua was only 17.
2. India has settled its first-ever crude oil payment to which country in local currency?
[A] UAE
[B] Russia
[C] Iran
[D] Malaysia
Answer: [A] UAE
In an effort to boost bilateral trade and reduce reliance on the US dollar, India has settled its first-ever crude oil payment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in local currency. The deal was facilitated under the ‘local currency settlement’ (LCS) system between state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Indian Oil Corporation. The deal is the second transaction under the LCS. The first deal took place in July, and involved the sale of 25kg of gold from a leading UAE gold exporter to a buyer in India.
3. Lake Ohrid, which was seen in the news, is located in which continent?
[A] Asia
[B] Europe
[C] North America
[D] Australia
Answer: [B] Europe
Lake Ohrid is a lake which spans the border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes. Scientists have uncovered what may be one of Europe’s earliest sedentary communities. Dating back 8,000 years, the homes built on stilts could be the oldest lakeside settlement ever found in Europe. Radiocarbon dating from the site puts it at between 6000 and 5800 BC.
4. What is the proposed outlay of the Vishwakarma Yojana scheme, which was recently announced?
[A] Rs 10000 crore
[B] Rs 15000 crore
[C] Rs 20000 crore
[D] Rs 25000 crore
Answer: [B] Rs 15000 crore
Prime Minister announced Vishwakarma Yojana scheme for artisans, with an allocation of up to 15,000 crore to help skill development among the youth. The scheme will be launched in September, on the Vishwakarma Jayanti. Vishwakarma Jayanti falls on 17 September 2023.
5. Bindeshwar Pathak, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Social Work
[C] Sports
[D] Science
Answer: [B] Social Work
Sulabh International founder, Padma Bhushan recipient, and social worker Bindeshwar Pathak passed away at the age of 80, Pathak was the founder of Sulabh International, an India based social service organisation which works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, waste management and reforms through education. He was credited with bringing in the revolutionary Sulabh Complex public toilet system to India.
6. Karnail Singh Isru, who was seen in the news, was a social activist from which state?
[A] Punjab
[B] Gujarat
[C] Kerala
[D] Sikkim
Answer: [A] Punjab
On India’s Independence Day this year, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann paid his tributes to the late activist Karnail Singh Isru, who died on the same day in 1955 while participating in the Goa Liberation Movement for the state’s accession to India. Isru was born on September 9, 1930, in the Chak 30 village which is now in Pakistan. Isru, along with satyagrahis, participated in a march from Pune to Goa in 1955 at a time when the state was under Portugese colonial rule.
7. Danna Village, also known as the Bhagat Village, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Manipur
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Goa
Answer: [C] Jammu and Kashmir
The Indian Army has dedicated a 115 Feet Long Bridge to Danna, the Last Village at the Line of Control (LoC) in Machhal Sector, Kupwara District, of Jammu and Kashmir. The 115 feet long Bridge has been named as Bhagat Bridge in memory of Late Major Bhagat Singh, Veer Chakra, who laid down his life defending this sector in the 1965 war. Danna Village is also popularly known as Bhagat Village.
8. ‘Full-time children’ is a popular concept of which country?
[A] USA
[B] Japan
[C] China
[D] Russia
Answer: [C] China
A new trend in China is becoming popular recently. It is being employed as full-time children to one’s own parents. Youth employment has been a national concern in China, parents hire their own kids full-time on a specific payment. In June 2023, the rate of employment among 16 to 24-year-old people was 21.3%. As per reports these full time kids are paid closer to 8,000 Yuan a month which is the average salary in China.
9. Hurricane Dora and tropical storm Greg have recently hit which region?
[A] Hawaii
[B] Papua New Guinea
[C] Australia
[D] Philippines
Answer: [A] Hawaii
The tropical storm Greg has reached near Hawaii state of the United States which is already reeling under the devastating impact of wildfire. Hurricane Dora created high gusty winds over Maui recently and complicated the wildfire problem. It also became a typhoon, and was the second tropical system on record to remain at hurricane strength across the eastern, central and western Pacific basins.
10. Which is the first state to provide free In- vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Goa
[C] Odisha
[D] Kerala
Answer: [B] Goa
In-vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment will now be available to Goan couples free of cost at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) from September 1. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and intrauterine insemination (IUI)/IVF Centre was launched at the super- speciality block of the GMCH.
11. Which Asian country has announced a ‘Golden Visa programme’?
[A] Philippines
[B] South Korea
[C] Indonesia
[D] Bangladesh
Answer: [C] Indonesia
Indonesia is all set to launch its own Golden Visa programme by the end of 2023. The popular tourist destination is working to change its immigration policy in order to promote foreign investment and attract international entrepreneurial and business talent. As per the initial announcement, the new residency-by- investment visa was slated to be available by June 2023.Last year, the country announced a new ‘second home visa’ of five years and 10 years.
12. Which state launched ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ to build homes for the needy?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Assam
Answer: [A] Jharkhand
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched Rs 15000 crore ‘Abua Awas Yojna’ on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day to build homes for the needy in the next two years. Mukhya Mantri Sarathi Yojana has been started to provide skill training to the youth of the state. Mukhyamantri Rozgar Srijan Yojana is being implemented to provide loans at subsidized rates to tribal, dalit, backward, minority and differently abled youth of the state for self- employment.
13. Ramgarh Dam, which was seen in the news, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Punjab
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Gujarat
[D] West Bengal
Answer: [B] Rajasthan
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that the historic Ramgarh Dam here will be filled with water of the Isarda Dam under the East Rajasthan Canal project. Under the project, 53 dams of Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Bharatpur and Alwar districts will be connected with the project to provide water.
14. What is Earendel, which was seen in the news?
[A] Exoplanet
[B] Star
[C] Vaccine
[D] Dinosaur species
Answer: [B] Star
In March 2022, astronomers announced the discovery of the farthest known star via an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. They named it Earendel, after the old English name for “morning star”. Recently, James Webb Space Telescope’s Near-infrared Camera (NIRCam) and its NIRSpec spectrometer have taken a look at the same star and revealed that it is a hydrogen- burning star. Compared to the Sun, it’s twice as hot and a million times more luminous.
15. What is the name of India’s first long-range revolver?
[A] Tejas
[B] Prabal
[C] Pheonix
[D] Ranger
Answer: [B] Prabal
India’s first long-range revolver, Prabal has been recently launched at the Small Arms Factory (SAF). It was manufactured by state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL). The revolver has a range of 50 metres, which is double the range of other revolvers in the market. It is the first in the country that has side wing cylinder, which makes trigger pull easy. ‘Prabal’ is made with metal injection mould technology.
16. Which country is the host of the ‘SEACAT 2023’ Defence Exercise?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] Singapore
[D] France
Answer: [C] Singapore
‘SEACAT 2023’ is a multilateral, multi-platform exercise including ashore and at-sea training evolutions that emphasizes real-world engagements to enhance cooperation and maritime security capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. Indian Naval Ship Kulish, a guided missile Corvette of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) at Port Blair visited Singapore to take part in the multinational exercise SEACAT 2023.
17. Aditi Swami, who was seen in the news, plays which sports?
[A] Golf
[B] Tennis
[C] Badminton
[D] Archery
Answer: [D] Archery
Aditi Swami becomes first Indian to clinch individual World Title at World Archery Championships. Less than two months after clinching the junior world title, 17-year-old Aditi, became the senior world champion in the summit clash of the compound women’s event in Berlin. India’s Ojas Deotale created became the new world champion in Men’s Individual compound event.
18. As per a recent SBI Research report, what is the expected per capita income of Indian in FY47?
[A] Rs 4.9 lakh
[B] Rs 7.9 lakh
[C] Rs 9.9 lakh
[D] Rs 14.9 lakh
Answer: [D] Rs 14.9 lakh
The report by State Bank of India Research stated that weighted mean income increased to Rs 13 lakh in assessment year 2022-23 (financial year 2021-22) and is expected to increase to Rs 49.7 lakh in 2047. It cited a transition from lower income group to upper income group along with a rise in the number of tax filers who were earlier not reporting income.
19. Which city is the host of the Youth 20 (Y20) Summit’?
[A] Pune
[B] Varanasi
[C] Ahmedabad
[D] Jaipur
Answer: [B] Varanasi
Under the overall framework of G20 Presidency, the Y20 India engagement Group meeting concluded successfully in Varanasi. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized Youth 20 Summit. During the summit, Y20 Communiqué was discussed and negotiated, thereafter, it has been signed successfully with unanimous consent.
20. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) is implemented by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Answer: [A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is underway with the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), originally launched in 2015. The scheme aims to build affordable houses in Urban India. The Prime Minister, on August 15, 2023, announced another scheme for the urban middle class, aimed to ease the process of acquiring and constructing a home of their own.