Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 24th May 2023
1. When is the ‘World Telecom Day’ observed every year?
[A] May 12
[B] May 15
[C] May 17
[D] May 20
Answer: [C] May 17
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is an international day is celebrated annually on 17 May. It was proclaimed in November 2006 by the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey. The theme for this year is “Empowering the least developed countries through information. and communication technologies.”
2. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘FAME- II Scheme’?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Heavy Industry
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of Power
Answer: [B] Ministry of Heavy Industry
The Ministry of Heavy Industry is planning to increase the outlay for the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India) scheme this financial year. The Ministry recently held a stakeholder consultation with e2-W manufacturers to deliberate the proposed changes to the scheme.
3. ‘Robert E Lucas’ who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Physics
[B] Economics
[C] Medicine
[D] Literature
Answer: [B] Economics
Nobel laureate Robert E Lucas has recently passed away at the age of 85. He was an American economist at the University of Chicago. Dr. Lucas, the recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in economic sciences, was best known for his role in developing a concept called the theory of rational expectations approach in macroeconomics.
4. Linda Yaccarino has been named as the CEO of which Multi-national Exchange?
[A] Twitter
[B] Microsoft
[C] Google
[D] Apple
Answer: [A] Twitter
Linda Yaccarino was recently named the CEO of Twitter. She is a well-known advertising executive from NBCUniversal. Elon Musk will transition to the role of Executive Chair and Chief Technology Officer. Linda Yaccarino was the former head of advertising at NBCUniversal.
5. Which institution organises the ‘Operation Dhvast’?
[A] Coast Guard
[B] National Investigation Agency
[C] Indian Navy
[D] Reserve Bank of India
Answer: [B] National Investigation Agency
As part of the Operation Dhvast, a massive day- long operation was conducted by the National Investigation Agency. This operation was conducted in 8 states in terrorist-gangster-drug smugglers nexus cases, along with Haryana Police and Punjab Police.
6. UK and the Netherlands agreed to build a coalition to help in procurement of F-16 fighter jets for which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Ukraine
[C] Iran
[D] Israel
Answer: [B] Ukraine
Prime Ministers of the UK and the Netherlands have agreed to build a global coalition that would help in the procurement of F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine. This comes a day after Ukraine President held meeting with the UK Prime Minister.
7. Which Department has developed the AI- based facial recognition tool named ‘ASTR’?
[A] Department of Telecorn
[B] National Informatics Centre (NIC)
[C] Department of Economic Affairs
[D] Department of Financial Services
Answer: [A] Department of Telecom
The Telecom Department has developed an AI- based facial recognition tool called the Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification (ASTR). It is capable of running checks on subscriber databases of telecom operators to minimize instances of cyber frauds.
8. What is the budget outlay of the ‘Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware’?
[A] Rs 12000 crore
[B] Rs 17000 crore
[C] Rs 32000 crore
[D] Rs 37000 crore
Answer: [B] Rs 17000 crore
The Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware was approved recently by the Union Cabinet. The budget outlay for this scheme is Rs.17,000 crore. The PLI scheme covers laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, servers and ultra-small form factor devices.
9. Rice, maize, and cotton crops are usually sown in which season?
[A] Kharif
[B] Rabi
[C] Zaid
[D] Monsoon
Answer: [A] Kharif
The Central Government recently approved the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potash (K) and Sulphur (S) for the 2023 kharif season. Rice, maize, and cotton are some of the major Kharif crops in India and require good rainfall. It had also approved NBS rates for Rabi season this year (January to March).
10. Platytholus clemensi is a newly discovered genus and species of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur found in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] Australia
Answer: [C] USA
Platytholus clemensi is a newly discovered genus and species of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur. Its partial skull remains were found in the US’ Montana. Also known as dome-headed or bone- headed dinosaurs, these creatures are characterized by a large, bony dome atop their skull, a short neck, short forelimbs and powerful hind limbs.
11. Death cap mushroom is a poisonous fungus found across which region?
[A] South Asia
[B] Europe
[C] Oceania
[D] North America
Answer: [B] Europe
Death cap mushroom is a poisonous fungus found across Europe. It grows up to 15 centimetres high, with tan or yellow-green tops. They are responsible for 90% of those fatalities from eating poisonous mushrooms each year. Scientists at China’s Sun Yat-sen University have discovered a dye called indocyanine green, which is capable of being an antidote to this mushroom. It is a dye routinely used for medical imaging.
12. Which state/UT recently approved the ordinance Amending Hospital Protection Act?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Answer: [B] Kerala
The Kerala Cabinet has recently approved the ordinance amending the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012. The ordinance includes a strict penal provision against perpetrators of violence against hospitals.
13. Which state/UT has announced to launch a ‘5G Technology Training Programme’?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] Gujarat
Answer: [B] Uttar Pradesh
The state government of Uttar Pradesh is planning to launch a 5G technology training programme under the Skill Development Mission. It seeks to create skilled workforce for operating the new and future employable technologies.
14. Which Union Ministry launched the ’75/25′ initiative?
[A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] Ministry of External Affairs
Answer: [A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The ’75/25′ initiative was unveiled by the Union Health Ministry on the occasion of World Hypertension Day, Indian Government’s target of reaching 75 million people with Hypertension under standard care in primary healthcare by 2025 is the largest cover of NCDs in the world for primary healthcare.
15. Which state/UT launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Answer: [C] Madhya Pradesh
Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana (Chief Minister Learn and Earn Scheme) was approved by the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet. Youth who have passed class 12, ITI, UG and PG are eligible for this scheme. The scheme will provide stipend to the youths along with training, skill upgradation will boost their employment opportunities and pave way for a better way of earning.
16. Which state/UT launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Answer: [C] Madhya Pradesh
Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana (Chief Minister Learn and Earn Scheme) was approved by the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet. Youth who have passed class 12, ITI, UG and PG are eligible for this scheme. The scheme will provide stipend to the youths along with training, skill upgradation will boost their employment opportunities and pave way for a better way of earning.
17. Which state/UT launched the ‘Matsyakara Bharosa scheme’?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Kerala
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Punjab
Answer: [A] Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh government recently released Rs.123.52 crore to around 1.2 lakh fishermen’s families under the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme. The scheme involves providing Rs.10,000 to fishermen’s family during the annual ban period on marine fishing from April 15 to June 14.
18. Which Indian budget airline has collapsed and cancelled all flights?
[A] SpiceJet
[B] Go First
[C] Jet Konnect
[D] Air Asia
Answer: [D] Go First
The recent collapse of the Go First Airline could have a major impact on entire airlines ecosystem. This cash-strapped airline has announced that it has cancelled all flights until May 26. It marks the first major airline collapse in India since Jet Airways filed for bankruptcy in 2019. Go First’s total debt to financial creditors was 65.21 billion rupees.
19. India launched ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist which country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Myanmar
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Answer: [B] Myanmar
India launched ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist Myanmar which has been recently hit by Cyclone Mocha. Four Indian Navy ships carrying relief material reached Yangon. The ships are carrying emergency food items, tents, essential medicines, water pumps, portable generators, clothes, sanitary and hygiene items, etc.
20. Which state launched the State Dashboard and a data and analytics-powered platform to monitor government schemes?
[A] Odisha
[B] West Bengal
[C] Assam
[D] Gujarat
Answer: [A] Odisha
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the State Dashboard, a data and analytics- powered platform which will streamline performance monitoring of government schemes, aiding data-driven decision-making. The State Dashboard consists of three critical components – CM Dashboard, Department Dashboard and Administrative Action Monitoring Portal.