Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 23rd & 24th July 2023
1. Which Indian city is set to host the ‘Festival of Libraries 2023’?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Chennai
[C] New Delhi
[D] Mysuru
Answer: [C] New Delhi
The Union Ministry of Culture will organize a two-day event, ‘Festival of Libraries’, at Pragati Maidan next month. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, is set to officially open the ‘Festival of Libraries 2023’. The festival will include exhibitions, book-author sessions, workshops for children, and panel discussions on the digitization of libraries. The aim is to celebrate knowledge, bridge the gap between history and the future, and foster a love for reading.
2. ‘Tankai method’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which process?
[A] Afforestation
[B] Ship Building
[C] Map making
[D] Painting
Answer: [B] Ship building
An agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy to restore the traditional “Tankai method” of shipbuilding. The complete project will be supervised and carried out by the Indian Navy. This initiative aims to revive and preserve the 2,000-year-old technique of shipbuilding known as the ‘stitched shipbuilding method’.
3. Who has been designated as the 25th Director General of Indian Coast Guard?
[A] Ranjan Gogoi
[B] DG Rakesh Pal
[C] Anil Cgauhan
[D] Manoj Pande
Answer: [B] DG Rakesh Pal
DG Rakesh Pal, an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy, has been designated as the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). He joined the Indian Coast Guard in January 1989. Rakesh Pal holds the recognition of being the first gunner of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). He has also been conferred with the Tatrakshak Medal (TM) in the year 2013 and President Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) for his distinguished service in 2018.
4. Which Indian state hosted the ‘International Symposium on Sustainable Livestock Transformation’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Karnataka
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Bihar
Answer: [A] Gujarat
Recently, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying inaugurated an International Symposium on Sustainable Livestock Transformation. It was inaugurated at the National Dairy Development Board’s (NDDB), Anand in Gujarat. The event took place as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and under the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) of G20.
5. Which state/Ut signed the Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Kerala
[C] West Bengal
[D] Odisha
Answer: [A] Rajasthan
Recently, the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 was presented by the state government, aiming to provide guaranteed wages or pension to the entire adult population in the state. The Bill ensures that all families receive 125 days of guaranteed employment annually, while the elderly, disabled, widows, and single women receive a minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000.
6. Mastitis, which was seen in the news, is a disease caused by?
[A] Virus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Algae
[D] Fungi
Answer: [B] Bacteria
Dairy farmers experience significant losses dueto mastitis, a disease primarily caused by bacteria. Timely diagnosis and treatment of this condition are crucial. A new technology transfer arrangement was recently signed to introduce environment-friendly technologies to control Mastitis in dairy animals and enhance growth performance in broiler chicks.
7. As per a recent study, which type of species may have hunted dinosaurs much larger than themselves?
[A] Mammals
[B] Fish
[C] Bacteria
[D] Amphibians
Answer: [A] Mammals
According to a recent study published, a fossil finding indicates that mammals may have hunted dinosaurs much larger than themselves. The fossil, initially discovered by a farmer in 2012, was found in a location referred to as “China’s Pompeii” in the northeastern region of the country. This site was affected by a volcanic eruption millions of years ago, resulting in the burial of plants and animals.
8. Which state/UT launched a dedicated portal (upevsubsidy) to facilitate the application process for electric vehicle subsidies?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] New Delhi
Answer: [C] Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a portal called “upevsubsidy.in” to facilitate the application process for electric vehicle subsidies provided by the state. This initiative is part of their electric vehicle policy, which aims to encourage the adoption and purchase of electric vehicles in Uttar Pradesh by offering incentives.
9. As per the All India Services Amendment Rules, 2023, which entity has the authority to act against IAS, IPS, IFOS pensioners?
[A] Governors
[B] District Magistrates
[C] Central Government
[D] High Courts
Answer: [C] Central Government
The Central government has amended the All- India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Amendment Rules, 2023. With this, the Centre has the authority to take action against IAS, IPS, and IFoS pensioners by withholding or withdrawing their pension, even without the involvement of the state government, if they are found guilty of grave misconduct or convicted of a serious crime.
10. A Functional factory to produce C295 military transport aircraft is to be set up in which state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Karnataka
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Tamil Nadu
Answer: [A] Gujarat
By November 2024, a functional factory will be established in Vadodara, Gujarat, where the production of the first Indian-manufactured C295 military transport aircraft will commence from 2026 onwards. The facility will resemble the extensive Airbus factory located in Seville, Spain, which spans over 1.2 million square meters.
11. The Railway Board intends to introduce which type of trains to serve low-incom groups?
[A] General category trains
[B] Antyodaya Trains
[C] Economy Trains
[D] Affordable Trains
Answer: [A] General category trains
The Railway Board intends to introduce general category trains without air conditioning to serve low-income groups, including migrant workers and laborers across the country. This decision comes after a study identified states with a high number of economically disadvantaged passengers who experience long waitlisted ticket durations.
12. ‘Promotion of R&D and Innovation in the pharma-med tech sector’ is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of MSME
Answer: [B] Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers
The Department of Pharmaceuticals’ Research & Development (R&D) scheme, titled “Promotion of Research and Development and Innovation in the pharma-medtech sector,” will soon be sent for approval by the Union Cabinet. The proposal has been reviewed in the Empowered Technical Group (ETG) meeting and is currently awaiting approval from Minister of Chemical and Fertilizer.
13. When was the ‘Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act’ introduced in India?
[A] 1867
[B] 1882
[C] 1946
[D] 1972
Answer: [A] 1867
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 was cleared recently by the Union Cabinet. It aims to replace the long-standing ‘Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act 1867. The Act has been in existence for 155 years. The new bill introduces simplified legislation that decriminalizes certain provisions and expands its scope to include digital media.
14. Mediation Bill, 2021, which was approved recently is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Law and Justice
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Answer: [b] Ministry of Law and Justice
Mediation Bill, 2021 was approved recently by the Union Cabinet. The Bill encompasses a structure for resolving civil or commercial conflicts through mediation prior to seeking legal intervention from a court or tribunal. It comes under Ministry of Law and Justice. This proposed law is expected to make participation in pre-litigation mediation compulsory, aiming to establish an effective method for dispute resolution and reduce the burden of unnecessary litigation on the judiciary.
15. Which country has set up a committee to develop ‘National Action Plan Anti-Microbial Resistance 2.0’?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Pakistan
[D] Myanmar
Answer: [A] India
India’s Union health ministry has established a high-level committee tasked with developing the National Action Plan Anti-Microbial Resistance 2.0 (NAP AMR). AMR, or anti-microbial resistance, refers to the phenomenon wherein bacteria, viruses, and fungi gradually develop resistance to medications, posing challenges in effectively treating various illnesses. This resistance can occur in both humans and animals.
16. Which state/UT implements the ‘Gruha Lakshmi scheme’?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Answer: [B] Karnataka
The registration for Karnataka government’s Gruha Lakshmi scheme commenced on July 19. Through this scheme, female heads of households throughout the state of Karnataka will be provided with a monthly amount of 2,000.
17. What is the expansion of DT vascular plants, which were recently identified in the Western Ghats?
[A] Desiccation-tolerant (DT) vascular plants
[B] Diffusion-tolerant (DT) vascular plants
[C] Dilution-tolerant (DT) vascular plants
[D] Dryness-tolerant (DT) vascular plants
Answer: [A] Desiccation-tolerant (DT) vascular plants
A recent study conducted in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity-rich region, has identified 62 plant species that possess the ability to thrive in harsh environments. These plants, known as desiccation-tolerant (DT) vascular plants, could have valuable applications in agriculture, especially in regions facing water scarcity.
18. Murchison Falls National Park and the Albert Delta Ramsar site are located in which country?
[A] Uganda
[B] Tanzania
[C] Nigeria
[D] Australia
Answer: [A] Uganda
According to a new research report, the construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) will cause significant disruptions to various ecosystems, including Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park and the Murchison Falls-Albert Delta Ramsar site. The project, which is considered a major fossil fuel infrastructure linking the Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields in western Uganda to the port of Tanga in eastern Tanzania, is projected to emit around 379 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2E).
19. ‘Tiger Orchid’ species originated from which region?
[A] Australia
[B] South-East Asia
[C] Europe
[D] North America
Answer: [B] South-East Asia
The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) in Palode is currently witnessing the blooming of Grammatophyllum speciosum, commonly known as the ‘Tiger Orchid.’ This orchid species, originating from South East Asia, is the largest in the world.
20. Which Indian set the Guinness World Record for the fastest hit by a male player in badminton at 565kmph?
[A] Srikanth Kidambi
[B] Lakshya Sen
[C] Prannoy HS
[D] R Satwiksairaj
Answer: [D] R Satwiksairaj
India’s R. Satwiksairaj set the Guinness World Record for the fastest hit by a male player in badminton at 565kmph. Satwiksairaj broke a decade-long record which was set in 2013 by Malaysian Tan Boon Heong, who had produced a speed of 493 kmph with his smash.