Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 23rd September 2023

1. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered a ban on cruise ships operating on water bodies of which state?

[A] Odisha

[B] Madhya Pradesh

[C] Gujarat

[D] Rajasthan

Answer: [B] Madhya Pradesh

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a ban on cruise ships operating on Madhya Pradesh’s (MP) water bodies, including the Upper Lake of Bhopal, citing environmental concerns. Cruise ships in Madhya Pradesh were found to have environmental issues, including noise pollution, inadequate waste disposal, and sewage contamination.

2. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is associated with which country?

[A] USA

[B] UK

[C] Australia

[D] Germany

Answer: [A] USA

A US District Court has declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal, although it did not order the immediate termination of protections and work permits for nearly 580,000 DACA recipients. DACA, established in 2012, allows undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children to apply for a deferment of legal action and work authorization.

3. Which state Chief Minister has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship?

[A] West Bengal

[B] Assam

[C] Rajasthan

[D] Tamil Nadu

Answer: [B] Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship, recognizing his contributions to the development of Assam. The Fellowship is named after Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, and is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to their nation’s development and bilateral relations with Singapore. He is the first Chief Minister from Assam to receive this honor, joining the ranks of distinguished recipients like Arun Shourie, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

4. Which state announced Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana (MMSKY)?

[A] Madhya Pradesh

[B] Sikkim

[C] Meghalaya

[D] Arunachal Pradesh

Answer: [D] Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced the launch of the Mukhya Mantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana (MMSKY) as part of the National Labour Day celebrations. Under the scheme, benefits such as maternity benefits, natural death compensation, accidental death compensation, funeral assistance, medical assistance, and more have been significantly increased.

5. Which country has enforced a European Union (EU) ban on all Russian-registered passenger cars entering the country?

[A] France

[B] Italy

[C] Poland

[D] Germany

Answer: [C] Poland

Poland has begun enforcing a European Union (EU) ban on all Russian registered passenger cars entering the country, in line with the EU’s sanctions against Russia due to its war in Ukraine. This move comes shortly after Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia also implemented a similar ban on vehicles with Russian license plates. The decision reflects the EU’s stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its threat to international security.

6. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised wing of which institution?

[A] Indian Army

[B] Indian Navy

[C] Central Reserve Police Force

[D] Assam Rifles

Answer: [C] Central Reserve Police Force

The Rapid Action Force is a specialised wing of the Central Reserve Police Force of India to deal with riot and crowd control situations. The Central government is considering to withdraw the Rapid Action Force from violence-hit Manipur in a phased manner. RAF was raised in 1992 to deal with riots. Over 200 people have been killed since the conflict broke out between the Meiteis and the Kukis in Manipur on May 3. Nearly 60,000 persons have been forced to flee their homes.

7. Which city is the host of the final meeting of the G-20 Framework Working Group (FWG)?

[A] Guwahati

[B] Varanasi

[C] Raipur

[D] Chennai

Answer: [C] Raipur

The fourth and final meeting of the G-20 Framework Working Group (FWG) under India’s G-20 Presidency will be held in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur. Around 65 delegates from G20 members and invitee countries, international and regional organisations attended the meeting which marked the culmination of the work done by the FWG during India’s Presidency of the grouping.

8. IREDA has signed MoUs with which institution for financing Renewable Energy Projects?

[A] Bank of Maharashtra

[B] State Bank of India

[C] Axis Bank

[D] HDFC Bank

Answer: [A] Bank of Maharashtra

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Maharashtra (BOM). This collaboration aims to promote and facilitate co-lending and loan syndication for Renewable Energy projects across the nation. Under this agreement, Bank of Maharashtra can invest in the Bonds issued by IREDA.

9. Amrit Brikhya Andolan, 2023′ is associated with which state/UT?

[A] Assam

[B] West Bengal

[C] Odisha

[D] Jharkhand

Answer: [A] Assam

As a part of ‘Amrit Brikhya Andolan, 2023’, the Assam government, along with public support, attempted nine world records during a drive to increase the State’s green cover. The world records attempted during the movement included the largest spiral of saplings, the largest number of seedlings distributed in one day at one venue, most trees planted by a team in 24 hours, most trees planted in an hour, largest planted tree mosaic, most trees planted by a team of 100 in an hour among others.

10. The Ministry of Finance approved welfare measures for the benefit of employees of which institution?

[A] EPFO

[B] LIC

[C] ISRO

[D] IOCL

Answer: [B] LIC

The Ministry of Finance approved a series of welfare measures for the benefit of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) agents and employees. The welfare measures are related to the amendments to LIC (Agents) Regulations, 2017, Enhancement of Gratuity Limit, and Uniform Rate of Family Pension among others. It will benefit more than 13 lakhs agents and more than 1 lakh regular employees.

11. Lampedusa, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?

[A] Germany

[B] Ukraine

[C] Italy

[D] Finland

Answer: [C] Italy

The European Commission President vowed a 10-point EU action plan to help Italian island of Lampedusa, which includes using the EU’s external borders agency to identify migrants arriving and repatriate those not eligible for asylum, Nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy just this year, which is almost double the figure by the same date in 2022.

12. What is the position of Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin throw event at the Diamond League 2023 Final?

[A] First

[B] Second

[C] Third

[D] Fourth

Answer: [B] Second

India’s Neeraj Chopra finished second in the men’s javelin throw event at the Diamond League 2023 Final in Eugene, Oregon, with a best effort of 83.80m. Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a Diamond League Trophy last year. Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, the 2016 and 2017 Diamond League champion, won his third title with a best throw of 84.24m.

13. Which racing driver won the Singapore Grand Prix tournament?

[A] Lewis Hamilton

[B] Carlos Sainz

[C] Charles Leclerc

[D] Max Verstappen

Answer: [B] Carlos Sainz

Spanish motorsports racing driver Carlos Sainz led from start to finish to win the Singapore Grand Prix tournament. Lando Norris was second in a McLaren with Lewis Hamilton crossing the line in third. Championship leader Max Verstappen was fifth as Red Bull failed to win a race for the first time this season.

14. Elavenil Valarivan, who was seen in the news, plays which sports?

[A] Shooting

[B] Javelin Throw

[C] Wrestling

[D] Boxing

Answer: [A] Shooting

Olympian Elavenil Valarivan won her second gold at the Olympic Shooting Centre range in Rio de Janeiro. She clinched the women’s 10m air rifle title, at the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup Rifle/Pistol stage.

15. ‘Khadi & Village Industries Commission’ functions under which Union Ministry?

[A] Ministry of MSME

[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

[C] Ministry of Culture

[D] Ministry of Textiles

Answer: [A] Ministry of MSME

Khadi & Village Industries Commission signed MoUs with Prasar Bharati, NBCC (India) Limited, and Digital India Corporation. The objective of these MoUs is to prepare a roadmap to modernize the Khadi and Village Industries Commission and popularize its products among the youth. NBCC (India) Limited will build new modern infrastructure for Khadi and Village Industries Commission across the country.

16. ‘Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS)’ is associated with which Union Ministry?

[A] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

[B] Ministry of Cooperation

[C] Ministry of Rural Development

[D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer: [A] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched three initiatives, namely the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), KCC Ghar Ghar Abhiyaan, an ambitious campaign aiming to extend the benefits of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme to every farmer across the nation and a manual on Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS). Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar unveiled initiatives focused on agri-credit (KCC & MISS) and crop insurance (PMFBY/RWBCIS).

17. Which city hosted the ‘National Workshop on e-NAM 2.0 and Agri Marketing Reforms’?

[A] Pune

[B] Amritsar

[C] Bhopal

[D] New Delhi

Answer: [D] New Delhi

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare organised ‘National Workshop on e-NAM 2.0 and Agri Marketing Reforms’. Till 31st August 2023, 1361 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) were integrated on e-NAM, covering 23 States and 4 UTS, where in 209 commodities are being traded.

18. Which institution established over 6000 Standard Clubs for students across nation?

[A] NITI Aayog

[B] Bureau of Indian Standards

[C] NASSCOM

[D] Atal Tinkering Labs

Answer: [B] Bureau of Indian Standards

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, has announced that it has established 6467 Standard Clubs in schools and colleges across the country. As per BIS the standard clubs are being established with an objective to sensitize young members of society about the importance of standards in improving quality of life.

19. Which institution released recommendations on “Rationalization of Entry Fee and Bank Guarantees”?

[A] RBI

[B] SEBI

[C] TRAI

[D] NPCI

Answer: [C] TRAI

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued the recommendations on “Rationalization of Entry Fee and Bank Guarantees”. Department of Telecommunication (DOT) sent a reference to TRAI seeking the rationalization of Entry Fees and Bank Guarantees of the various licenses operating in the telecom sector. The Authority has also recommended no entry fee at the time of renewal of license.

20. Which country has suspected India in a Sikh leader murder?

[A] USA

[B] Canada

[C] Australia

[D] Germany

Answer: [B] Canada

Canada said that it was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June. This is seen as a further blow to diplomatic ties between the countries. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in June, in Surrey with a large Sikh population. Nijjar supported a Sikh homeland in the form of an independent Khalistani state and was designated by India as a “terrorist” in July 2020.