Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 21st & 22nd May 2023
1. Which institution released the World Tourism Barometer’ Report?
[A] UNICEF
[B] UNWTO
[C] UNDP
[D] World Bank
Answer: [B] UNWTO
World Tourism Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. According to the second UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, international tourism is rebounding to pre- pandemic levels. Around 235 million tourists travelled internationally in the first three months of 2023. Overall, international arrivals reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023.
2. Which institution has established a ‘National Energy Management Centre’?
[A] REC Limited
[B] REMC Limited
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] National Gas Exchange
Answer: [B] REMC Limited
REMC – a subsidiary of the RITES Ltd – has established the National Energy Management Centre (NEMC) at its office. REMC stands for Railway Energy Management Company. The purpose of this centre is to oversee and handle the energy procurement for the Railways at a pan-India level.
3. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Brazil
[D] South Africa
Answer: [C] Brazil
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed for the first time by Brazil. Two cases were detected in wild birds. Brazil is the world’s top chicken exporter and the government confirmed the detection of H5N1 subtype of the influenza virus on two birds. While humans can contract H5N1, cases remain very rare.
4. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Meri LIFE, Mera Swachh Shehar’ Campaign?
[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of MSME
Answer: [A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
“Meri LIFE, Mera Swachh Shehar” is a mega campaign of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Its aim is to promote the reduce, reuse and recycle concept in waste management. This nationwide campaign aims to highlight cities to setup ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) Centres, one stop collection centres to contribute clothes, shoes, old books, toys and used plastic to be reused or recycled.
5. Amy Pope, the first woman Director General of the International Organization for Migration, is from which country?
[A] United States
[B] Germany
[C] Australia
[D] UK
Answer: [A] United States
Amy Pope of the United States was recently elected as the direct general of the International Organization for Migration. She is the first woman to take up this position in the organisation in its more than 70-year-old history. USA is the largest bilateral donor of the International Organization for Migration.
6. Which institution released the ‘Spring 2023 Economic Forecast’?
[A] World Bank
[B] European Commission
[C] WEF
[D] IMF
Answer: [B] European Commission
The ‘Spring 2023 Economic Forecast’ was released recently by the European Commissioń. It revised the 2023-24 growth outlook of 20 countries with the Euro as their currency to 1.1 percent from the previous estimate of 0.9 percent. As per the report, lower energy prices, abating supply constraints and a strong labour market supported moderate growth in the first quarter of 2023.
7. Which state procured over 600,000 quintasl of finger millet under its state Millet Mission?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Odisha
[C] Kerala
[D] Telangana
Answer: [B] Odisha
During the Kharif 2022-23 season, the Odisha state government has procured some 600,000 quintals of ragi or finger millet under Odisha Millet Mission. The crop was procured at an MSP of Rs 3,578 per quintal. The Mission is an initiative of state’s department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to revive millets in collaboration with WSHGs, FPOs, NCDS, WASSAN and local NGOs.
8. Which county manufactures the ‘HIMARS Rocket’?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] Russia
[D] France
Answer: [A] USA
Poland recently received the first batch of the US-made HIMARS rocket launchers. These rockets will be deployed at the region bordering Russia. Poland is buying billions of dollars’ worth of weapons, chiefly from the US and South Korea. This step is a part of a defence upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
9. Pita Limjaroenrat, who was seen in the news, is a political leader from which country?
[A] Ukraine
[B] Russia
[C] Thailand
[D] Myanmar
Answer: [C] Thailand
In Thailand, voters have favoured Pita Limjaroenrat’s Move forward party. The party is set to win 151 of the 500 seats in the lower house. Voters rejected a decade of army-backed rule, handing more seats and votes to Move Forward than any other party.
10. The Asteroid Belt is situated between which planets?
[A] Mars and Jupiter
[B] Jupiter and Saturn
[C] Saturn and Neptune
[D] mercury and Venus
Answer: [A] Mars and Jupiter
Comet Read is the main belt comet that is found in the main asteroid belt but has a halo or coma and a tail like a comet. It is one of the three comets used to establish the category of main belt comets. James Webb Space Telescope’s finding is intriguing because this is the first-time water has been found in the main asteroid belt, which is located between Mars and Jupiter.
11. ‘Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)’ is an initiative between India and which country?
[A] Australia
[B] USA
[C] France
[D] UAE
Answer: [B] USA
U.s.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) was launched in May 2022. The first-ever meeting of the Strategic Trade Dialogue to implement the outcomes of the US- India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology is set to be held shortly. This meeting is expected to help streamline export controls, improve high-tech commerce and facilitate tech transfer between countries.
12. Sitiveni Rabuka, who apologised for his role in 1987 military coup, is the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Myanmar
[B] Fiji
[C] South Africa
[D] Thailand
Answer: [B] Fiji
Ahead of the third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made a public apology for his role in the 1987 military coup. This coup was a pivotal moment in the country’s history, resulting in the overthrowing of the elected government of Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra.
13. ‘Archopterus anjiensis’, the oldest sea scorpion, has been found in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Argentina
[D] South Africa
Answer: [B] China
Archopterus anjiensis is the oldest fossil sea Scorpion in China. Its 445-million-year-old fossil was found in the Chinese Zhejiang Province. The 445-million-year-old fossil sea scorpion lived during the uppermost Ordovician period, around 445 million years ago.
14. Which documentary won the “Best Long Documentary Award” at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal 2023?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Gauri
[C] Scam
[D] Bharat Mata Ki
Answer: [B] Gauri
Gauri, a documentary based on journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, has recently won the “Best Long Documentary Award” at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal 2023. The film festival is organized to promote, foster and enhance cultural harmony between diverse communities of South Asia.
15. ‘AutoGrowN Project’ is implemented by which institutions?
[A] IIHR and IITB
[B] IIHR and IITM
[C] ICAR and IITB
[D] ICAR and IITM
Answer: [A] IIHR and IITB
AutoGrow Project is implemented jointly by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB). Under this project, an automated greenhouse system is developed for precision in agriculture. The system has three configurations; hydroponics, open grow farming, and vertical setup.
16. ‘Himcare scheme’, which was seen in the news, belongs to which category?
[A] Medical Insurance Scheme
[B] Education Guidance Scheme
[C] Financial Aid Scheme
[D] Farmers Aid Scheme
Answer: [A] Medical Insurance scheme
Mukhya Mantri Himachal Health Care Scheme (HIMCARE) is being implemented by the Himachal Pradesh government since 1st January, 2019. Under HIMCARE Scheme, cashless treatment coverage up to Rs. 5.00 lakh per year per family is being provided in the empanelled hospitals. Under this initiative, Himcare cards were distributed to jail inmates.
17. Which milestone has béen achieved by the “Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)?
[A] 100
[B] 250
[C] 500
[D] 1000
Answer: [B] 250
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is the flagship initiative of the Union Defence Ministry. It recently reached a millstone with the signing of thé 250th contract. The contract is the first one under the Mission DefSpace, and the 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract. Mission DefSpace was launched with 75 Defence Space Challenges to be addressed by the private sector.
18. Which is the first state in the country to introduce a welfare fund for MGNREGS workers?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Telangana
[D] Odisha
Answer: [B] Kerala
Kerala recently became the first state in the country to introduce a welfare fund for Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers. Under this initiative, individuals above the age of 60 will be eligible for pension under this fund. The welfare fund has been formed as per the Kerala Employment Guarantee Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 2021.
19. Which Union Ministry has revised the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulations?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Renewable Energy
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] Ministry of Steel
Answer: [B] Ministry of Renewable Energy
The Union MNRE Ministry has revised the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulations to increase participation of private entities in the renewable energy manufacturing supply chain. It will minimize compliance cost for solar PV manufacturers and ease the processing of application filing.
20. Which portal will have details of alI registered doctors in India?
[A] National Medical Register
[B] National Unique Register
[C] Medical Practitioners Register
[D] Bharat Ayush Register
Answer: [A] National Medical Register
Indian government has mandated all registered doctors to get a Unique Identification Number (UID) from the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the latest data will be updated in the National Medical Register. With this, people would be able to know details like registration number, date of birth, date of registration, etc of the doctor.