Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 2nd June 2023
1. Which country has launched the ‘Shenzhou-16’ Mission?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] South Korea
[D] Israel
Answer: [B] China
China recently launched the Shenzhou-16 mission. As part of this mission, three astronauts lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert in northwest China. The astronauts aboard Shenzhou-16 spacecraft will stay in the Tiangong space station for the next five months. This is the country’s fifth manned mission to a fully functional space station since 2021.
2. Sabang port, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] India
[B] Myanmar
[C] Indonesia
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer: [C] Indonesia
Sabang port in Indonesia is situated 700 km from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Recently, India and Indonesia completed a joint feasibility study on the development of this port. The successful development of this port would allow India easier access to the Malacca Straits, a
narrow stretch of the sea between Indonesia and Malaysia and one of six chokepoints along the world’s maritime trading routes.
3. Which state is set to develop the Konark Sun Temple Complex?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Assam
[D] Chhattisgarh
Answer: [B] Odisha
The Odisha government has recently decided to develop the Konark Sun Temple Complex with an outlay of Rs.209 crore. It will be developed as part of the Konark Heritage Area Development Plan (KHADP), under the Integrated Development of Heritage & Monuments and Tourist Destination Scheme.
4. A Submarine Mud Volcano has been recently spotted in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] Chile
[C] Norway
[D] Japan
Answer: [C] Norway
A Submarine mud volcano is an underwater geological structure that was formed after the constant expulsion of gas or fluids like methane from the seabed. Scientists have recently spotted a submarine mud volcano close to Norway’s Bear Island in Barents Sea. Bear Island is the southernmost island of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago.
5. ‘Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)’ was founded in which year?
[A] 1988
[B] 1998
[C] 2008
[D] 2018
Answer: [A] 1988
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is the largest public health initiative in history. It was founded in 1988. Recently Cameroon, Chad and Niger have initiated Africa’s largest polio vaccination campaign since 2020 with the support from WHO via the GPEI.
6. Northeast India’s First Vande Bharat Express travels from Assam to which state/UT?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer: [A] West Bengal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the first Vande Bharat Express in Northeast India. It will travel from Assam’s Guwahati to West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri. The Vande Bharat Express will operate six days a week (except Tuesdays) and will cut down the travel time between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri by one hour.
7. What is ‘Gomphonema rajaguruii’, which was discovered recently?
[A] Algae
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungi
[D] Virus
Answer: [A] Algae
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a newly discovered species of oxygen-supplying algae. It is named after a veteran geo-archaeologist, the late Professor S N Rajaguru. Gomphonema rajaguruii is a freshwater diatom species. The finding is unique because it shows the characteristics of two genus Gomphonema and Gomphoneis.
8. Which company is set to build Israel’s most powerful AI supercomputer- Israel1?
[A] Samsung
[B] NVIDIA
[C] IMD
[D] Qualcomm
Answer: NVIDIA
Israel-1 is an Israeli supercomputer that is set to be built by Nvidia. It will be partly operational by the end of this year. The system is expected to deliver performance of up to eight exaflops of AI computing that will essentially make it one of the world’s fastest AI supercomputers.
9. Which institution reconstituted intermediary advisory committee for legal framework?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NPCI
[D] IRDAI
Answer: [B] SEBI
Capital Market Regulator SEBI has recently reconstituted its intermediary advisory committee. This committee is responsible for providing recommendations on matters concerning changes in legal framework and increasing transparency in systems and procedures of market intermediaries like stock brokers, clearing members and depository participants.
10. Which institution released the ‘Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling’?
[A] WMO
[B] UNEP
[C] WHO
[D] Greenpeace Philippines
Answer: [D] Greenpeace Philippines
The report titled “Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling” was released recently by Greenpeace Philippines. According to this report, recycling can increase the toxicity of plastics. The report was released ahead of the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop a Global Plastics Treaty, being held at Paris, France.
11. Which institutions released the ‘Hunger Hotspots -Early warnings on acute food insecurity’ report?
[A] World Bank – IMF
[B] IMF – WEF
[C] FAO – WFP
[D] WHO – FAO
Answer: [C] FAO- WFP
A new report titled “Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity” was released recently. According to this report, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar are among the hunger hotspots in the world. Acute food insecurity can potentially increase in magnitude and severity for 18 areas in 22 countries.
12. Which country has introduced a robot called ‘Kachaka’ with capacity to deliver items through voice commands?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] North Korea
[D] South Korea
Answer: [B] Japan
A Tokyo-based startup Preferred Robotics has introduced a robot called Kachaka for home use. It has the capacity to deliver items through voice commands. The robot’s AI technology enables it to analyse camera images, allowing it to detect and avoid obstacles. Kachaka has a maximum carrying capacity of 20 kg, including the attached table.
13. Lipizzans, which are seen in the news, belong to which species?
[A] Horse
[B] Dog
[C] Poultry
[D] Cat
Answer: [A] Horse
The Lipizzans are horses that are descendants of long stallion lines crossing Spanish, Arabic and Berber horses. Lipizzans are famous for their “airs above the ground” classical dressage jumps. The tradition of Lipizzan breeding was recently included in UNEScO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The name derives from Lipica where the horses are found in Slovenia.
14. Which Union Ministry releases ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey Figures’?
[A] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
[B] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer: [A] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently released the latest figures from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). These figures indicate that the unemployment rate in Indian cities is at the lowest since the survey started in 2018. The unemployment rate among men stood at 6.0%, while for women it was 9.2%.
15. Which country has granted approval to include TOEFL test as a valid option for Student Direct Stream program?
[A] China
[B] Canada
[C] Australia
[D] Japan
Answer: Canada
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted approval to include TOEFL test scores as a valid option for the Student Direct Stream program in Canada. The
Student Direct Stream (SDs) is a program, designed to accelerate the processing of study permit applications for international students intending to enrol in designated learning institutions for post-secondary education in Canada.
16. Which institution hosted the plenary on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO)?
[A] NASSCOM
[B] BIS
[C] PIB
[D] NITI Aayog
Answer: [B] BIS
The 44th plenary on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) is a four-day event hosted by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The ISO Countries have renewed their commitment to incorporate the objectives of the SDGs into its standards programme. BIS’s initiatives, such as Manak Manthan, Quality Connect are aimed at enhancing consumer engagement in standardisation.
17. Which state/UT launched the ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiative?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Telangana
[D] Kerala
Answer: [B] Odisha
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the ‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives. In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack. The state government has roped in global technology company Intel for the initiative.
18. Which institution has set up a Committee to Implement Rare Diseases Policy?
[A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[B] Delhi High Court
[C] BIS
[D] IRDAI
Answer: [B] Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has recently set up a five- member committee to implement the rare diseases policy formulated by the Indian government. It will ensure seamless coordination between the medical community, the providers of therapies for rare diseases and Governmental agencies.
19. Which country has launched USD 17 billion project known as the ‘Route of Development’?
[A] Iraq
[B] Iran
[C] UAE
[D] Israel
Answer: [A] Iraq
Iraq presented an ambitious plan to turn itself into a regional transportation hub by developing its road and rail infrastructure, linking Europe with the Middle East. Once completed, the $17 billion project known as the ‘Route of Development’ would span the length of the country, stretching 1,200 km from the northern border with Turkiye to the Gulf in the south.
20. Which country has granted approval to include TOEFL test as a valid option for Student Direct Stream program?
[A] China
[B] Canada
[C] Australia
[D] Japan
Answer: [B] Canada
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted approval to include TOEFL test scores as a valid option for the Student Direct Stream program in Canada, The Student Direct Stream (SDS) i a program designed to accelerate the processing of study permit applications for international students intending to enrol in designated learning institutions for post-secondary education in Canada.