Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 25th & 26th June 2023
1. The Child Helpline 1098 is set to be consolidated with which helpline?
[A] 100
[B] 101
[C] 112
[D] 1091
Answer: [C] 112
The Ministry of Women and Child Development had announced the consolidation of the existing child helpline (1098), operated by Childline, with the women’s helpline and Emergency Response Support System (112), as part of its “One Nation, One Helpline” initiative. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Puducherry, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Mizoram, Gujarat, and Bihar are set to launch the integrated child helpline service by the end of this month, making it the first of its kind in India.
2. Which country signed partnership agreement with the UNWTO for promoting tourism?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Myanmar
[C] Laos
[D] India
Answer: [D] India
India and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) have entered into a partnership agreement to strengthen collaboration and identify common areas of interest. It was signed in the backdrop of G20 Tourism Ministers meeting at Goa, The MoU will see both parties collaborate on key areas related to tourism market intelligence, tourism, and rural development, tourism investment, education, and innovation.
3. ‘Operation Kawach’ has been launched to crack down the menace of drugs in which state/UT?
[A] Punjab
[B] Sikkim
[C] New Delhi
[D] Gujarat
Answer: [C] New Delhi
‘Operation Kawach’ has been launched to crack down the menace of drugs in the national capital. Under this operation, the Delhi Police apprehended a total of 776 individuals involved in drug offenses. These arrests were made in connection with 615 cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). The police have successfully seized approximately 36 kilograms of heroin so far.
4. Which institution released the ‘Global Food Policy Report (GFPR) 2023’?
[A] FAO
[B] IFPRI
[C] FSSAI
[D] FCI
Answer: [B] IFPRI
The Global Food Policy Report (GFPR) 2023 was released recently by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). According to this report, the combination of three significant challenges-the Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and frequent occurrences of natural disasters-has heightened the vulnerability of the food security system in South Asia.
5. Which Union Ministry organized the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ special event?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of AYUSH
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Sports
Answer: [B] Ministry of AYUSH
To commemorate the International Yoga Day 2023, the Ministry of AYUSH has organized a special event called the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ to symbolize unity and solidarity. As part of this initiative, Indian Navy ships stationed in the Indian Ocean Region are visiting different ports of friendly foreign nations to prormote the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ which is also the theme for IDY 23.
6. Which company has developed ‘Omicron- specific mRNA-based Booster vaccine’?
[A] Gennova
[B] Bharat Biotech
[C] Serum Institute
[D] Dr Reddy’s Labs
Answer: [A] Gennova
The Omicron-specific m RNA-based Booster vaccine, developed by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the office of the Drug Control General of India (DCGI). This is a result of the support provided by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Mission COVID Suraksha initiative.
7. Which state recorded the highest number of heat stroke mortalities in India in 2021?
[A] Punjab
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Rajasthan
Answer: [B] Uttar Pradesh
A heat stroke occurs when the surrounding temperature is extremely high, preventing the body from sweating adequately to regulate its Core temperature, Union Health Ministry announced dispatch of central teams to affected states in response to heatwave-related deaths. Indian Council of Medical Research is also requested to devising preventive plans. The heat stroke mortalities in 2021 were 374 across the country, while 57 and 36 people died in Bihar and UP respectively.
8. NASA developed the ‘Transonic Truss-Brace Wing demonstrator’ along with which company?
[A] Airbus
[B] Boeing
[C] Tesla
[D] Blue Virgin
Answer: [B] Boeing
The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing is an innovative wing design that utilizes slender struts to support a longer structure. This design enhances the aircraft’s ability to glide, reducing the amount of fuel needed for propulsion and helping to minimize emissions. US Air Force has designated the Transonic Truss-Brace Wing demonstrator from Boeing and NASA as the X-66A.
9.Which state passed a bill amending procedure to select police chief by cutting out role of UPSC?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Punjab
[C] Karnataka
[D] Odisha
Answer: [B] Punjab
The Punjab Police (amendment) Bill, 2023 was recently passed by the state assembly to cut out the role of the Union Public Service Commission in selecting the Director General of Police. As per the proposed amendment bill, a committee designated by the state will be responsible for selecting a panel of three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers as potential candidates for the position of DGP. The candidate will be picked by the state government.
10. Which global bloc is associated with ‘USD 55 billion package to support Ukraine’?
[A] G-27
[B] G-20
[C] ASEAN
[D] EU
Answer: [D] EU
The European Union has urged its member states to endorse a 50-billion-euro (USD 55 billion) plan aimed at providing assistance to Ukraine over the next four years. The proposed financial reserve will enable flexible adjustments to the level of financial aid based on the developments and conditions on the ground.
11. The Election Commission of India has published a draft proposal for the delimitation of Assembly & Parliamentary Constituencies of which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Assam
[C] West Bengal
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Answer: [B] Assam
The Election Commission of India released the preliminary plan for the delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies of the state of Assam. This is in accordance with the guidelines outlined in Section 8-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. As per the draft proposal, the number of assembly constituencies and Lok Sabha constituencies has remained unaltered at 126 and 14 respectively, however the boundaries of all the constituencies have been demarcated differently keeping in mind the changed demography.
12. In which city, the CREDAI Garden-People’s Park was inaugurated by Union Minister Amit Shah?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Varanasi
[C] Ahmedabad
[D] Lucknow
Answer: [C] Ahmedabad
The Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, has inaugurated the a public park named CREDAI Garden-People’s Park at Ahmedabad. CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India) has developed the park at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, which spans an area of 12,000 square meters. This public park is the first of its kind to feature a music system within it.
13. Where was the 91st Annual Meeting of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD 2023) held?
[A] Sweden
[B] Denmark
[C] India
[D] Brazil
Answer: [A] Sweden
The 91st Annual Meeting of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD 2023) too place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 11th to 15th June, 2023. In the meeting, India was represented by NHPC Limited which is India’s largest hydropower development organization.
The NHPC delegation presented several papers and posters in critical issues faced by hydropower developers.
14. Which institution has launched the ‘Knowledge Sharing’ platform for inclusive development of Indian Highways?
[A] NHAI
[B] DRDO
[C] ISRO
[D] Google
Answer: [A] NHAI
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a ‘Knowledge Sharing’ platform for sharing of knowledge and innovative best practices in Indian Highways. The platform is hosted on the NHAI website and this initiative will help the authority to collaborate with experts and citizens who want to share knowledge related to topics such as road design, construction, road safety, environment sustainability and related fields.
15. In the recently released ‘Moto Third Party Premium and Liability Rules’ by what percent the premium for third-party motor insurance is increased?
[A] 2%
[B] 2.5%
[C] 5%
[D] No change
Answer: [D] No Change
In the recently released Motor Third Party Premium and Liability Rules (FY) 2023-24 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in consultation with IRDAI, no change is proposed in the premium rates for third-party motor insurance for FY2023-24. The Government of India has made it mandatory in India for motor vehicles to get a third-party insurance policy under the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act of India, 1988.
16. Which country co-hosted the ‘Ukraine Recovery conference’, along with Ukraine?
[A] UK
[B] USA
[C] Germany
[D] France
Answer: [A] UK
The Ukraine Recovery Conference is dedicated to Ukraine’s transformation and was symbolically launched in London in 2017 as the Ukraine Reform Conference. The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023, to be held jointly by the UK and Ukraine in London in June, is a continuation of the cycle of annual events with the last one conducted jointly with Switzerland in Lugano.
17. Magdalena Abakanowicz, who was honoured with a Google Doodle, was associated with which profession?
[A] Sports person
[B] Politician
[C] Sculptor
[D] Writer
Answer: [C] Sculptor
Late Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz has been honoured with a Google Doodle on what would have been her 93rd birthday. She won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center in New Jersey, an award for Distinction in Sculpture from the Sculpture Center in New York, and the Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta in Poland.
18. ‘Sabai Grass Mats’ are created by Tribal people of which state?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] Sikkim
Answer: [C] Odisha
Sabai Grass Yoga Mats are created by Tribals of Mayurbhanj, Odisha. They are made using Sabai grass and are renowned for its lightweight and flexibility. The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED) has joined forces with the Ministry of Ayush to provide 34,000 yoga mats ahead of International Yoga Day.
19. When is the ‘World Sickle Cell Awareness Day’ observed every year?
[A] June 15
[B] June 19
[C] June 21
[D] June 25
Answer: [B] June 19
‘World Sickle Cell Awareness Day’ is observed on June 19th each year to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD). Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that causes sickle- shaped red blood cells to stick together, which blocks blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body.
20. UAE and which other country has re-opened embassies to restore diplomatic ties?
[A] Israel
[B] Iran
[C] Qatar
[D] Oman
Answer: [C] Qatar
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have reopened their respective embassies in Abu Dhabi and Doha, respectively. This marks the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries, which had been severed in 2017. The reopening of the embassies is based on the Al- Ula agreement, which was signed by the leaders of the GCC countries in 2021.