Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 30th & 31st July 2023
1. Phangnon Konyak, who was seen in the news, is a Member of Parliament from which state/UT?
[A] Nagaland
[B] Manipur
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Sikkim
Answer: [A] Nagaland
Phangnon Konyak recently created history as the first female representative from Nagaland to assume the position of Rajya Sabha Chairperson. House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had nominated her and three other women members to the panel of vice-chairpersons, for the first time. In 2022, Ms Konyak became the first woman to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland and the second woman from the state to be elected to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha or the state Assembly.
2. Which river serves as the predominant border between the United States and Mexico?
[A] Niagara River
[B] Rio Grande River
[C] St. Lawrencw River
[D] Detroit River
Answer: [B] Rio Grande River
The Rio Grande River, spanning 3,051 kilometers, flows from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico and serves as the predominant border between the United States and Mexico throughout most of Texas. Recently, the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas and its Republican Governor Greg Abbott for placing floating barriers in the Rio Grande River to impede migrants from crossing over from Mexico.
3. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state/UT?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Goa
[C] West Bengal
[D] Manipur
Answer: [B] Goa
The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is a designated protected region located in the state of Goa, India. It is situated in the Western Ghats of South India. Recently, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court instructed the Goa government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other regions mentioned in the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) communications and plans prepared by the Goa forest department as a tiger reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act within a period of three months.
4. Which is the first African country to initiate a debt-for-nature swap?
[A] Egypt
[B] South Africa
[C] Gabon
[D] Kenya
Answer: [C] Gabon
Recently, Gabon made history as the first African country to initiate a debt-for-nature swap. The country intends to purchase a minimum of USD 450 million of its government debt in exchange for an environmentally sustainable blue bond.
5. X-59, also known as the ‘Son of Concorde, is an experimental supersonic aircraft of which country?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] UAE
Answer: [C] USA
As NASA is gearing up to conduct tests on its latest experimental supersonic aircraft, the X-59, affectionately known as the ‘Son of Concorde, there is a serious anticipation for a potential supersonic revival. This advanced aircraft has the potential to traverse any two locations on the globe in just 2 hours, raising hopes for a return of supersonic travel.
6. ‘Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports’ Scheme is being implemented from which year?
[A] 2006
[B] 2016
[C] 2018
[D] 2020
Answer: [B] 2016
‘Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports’ Scheme is a central sector scheme implemented since 2016. The ‘Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games’ sub-component of this scheme, assistance is provided to Mallakhamb, Kalaripayyattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Silambam, and Yogasan in various aspects. These include infrastructure development, equipment support, coach appointments, coach training, and athlete scholarships.
7. ‘Worldcoin project’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Cryptocurrency
[C] Defence
[D] Gender Equality
Answer: [B] Cryptocurrency
The ‘Worldcoin project,’ led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has gained worldwide recognition as individuals across the globe participate in eye scans in return for a digital identification and the opportunity to receive free cryptocurrency. It is causing privacy concerns. Using a device called “Orb,” Worldcoin volunteers known as ‘Orb operators’ scan a person’s iris pattern to collect their biometric data and help them get a World ID through the World app.
8. Seine River, which was seen in the news, flows across which city?
[A] Paris
[B] Cairo
[C] New York
[D] Beijing
Answer: [A] Paris
River Seine in Paris will soon welcome swimmers and divers back for the first time in nearly a century, as it enters the last phase of an unprecedented cleanup effort. Having been prohibited for almost a century due to pollution, the government is investing approximately USD 1.6 billion in the Seine regeneration project, which is being praised universally as a triumph.
9. Gulf Stream system, which was seen in the news, is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within which Ocean?
[A] Pacific Ocean
[B] Atlantic Ocean
[C] Indian Ocean
[D] Arctic Ocean
Answer: [B] Atlantic Ocean
The AMOC is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm water north and cold water south. According to a recent study, there are indications that the Gulf Stream system, also referred to as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc), could experience a collapse by 2025, leading to severe climate consequences.
10. ‘Wataria parvipora forest’ has been discovered in which country?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] USA
[D] Australia
Answer: [B] Japan
In Japan, a research team has discovered a remarkably well-preserved fossil forest known as Wataria parvipora. This discovery could provide crucial insights for reconstructing a comprehensive Eurasian plant ecosystem from the late Miocene epoch, approximately 10.4 to 5 million years ago.
11. As per a recent research, which mass extinction is expected to be more severe than previously anticipated?
[A] Second
[B] Third
[C] Fifth
[D] Sixth
Answer: [D] Sixth
A research titled “More losers than winners: Investigating Anthropocene Defaunation through the Diversity of population trends” was recently published in Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. The planet’s sixth mass extinction, fuelled by human activities, may trigger a rapid biodiversity imbalance. After studying over 71,000 animal species across five strata, which include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, the mass extinction is expected to be more severe than previously anticipated.
12. Which country hosted the recent session of the ‘Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)’?
[A] Italy
[B] USA
[C] Israel
[D] Kenya
Answer: [A] Italy
During the 19th regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, a significant accomplishment was the establishment of a technical working group dedicated to genetic resources of microorganisms and pollinators. This intergovernmental working group, known as MIGR, was formed during the five-day-long meeting, which saw the participation of more than 250 attendees.
13. Which country hosted the ‘International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science’?
[A] USA
[B] Australia
[C] Israel
[D] Indonesia
Answer: [B] Australia
The World Health Organization (WHO) presented updated scientific and normative advice concerning human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during the 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, held in Australia. The UN health agency additionally urged nations to incorporate mpox detection, prevention, and care into current and novel HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention and control initiatives.
14. Entoloma hochstetteri, which was seen in the news, is indigenous to which country?
[A] USA
[B] New Zealand
[C] India
[D] Japan
Answer: [B] New Zealand
A distinctive blue mushroom species (Entoloma hochstetteri) was recently discovered in the forests of Kaghaznagar division. It is a rare mushroom and it is indigenous to New Zealand. The appearance of blue mushrooms was observed for the first time in India, specifically in Odisha, in 1989.
15. ‘Badgirs’ are chimney-like structures, which are ingeniously designed in which country?
[A] Iran
[B] Israel
[C] UAE
[D] Japan
Answer: [A] Iran
In the desert city of Yazd, Iran, residents have ingeniously designed tall, chimney-like structures called wind catchers or badgirs, which draw in cooling breezes to provide relief from the extreme heat that often exceeds 40 degrees Celsius during the summer. These architectural marvels are a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to energy-consuming air- conditioners, making them both cost-effective and carbon-free.
16. What are the denominations of the Commemorative coins to mark India’s G20 presidency?
[A] Rs 75 and Rs 100
[B] Rs 100 and Rs 200
[C] Rs 200 and Rs 500
[D] Rs 500 and Rs 1000
Answer: [A] Rs 75 and Rs 100
In honor of India’s G20 presidency, the government is set to unveil two special commemorative coins, valued at Rs 100 and Rs 75, respectively. Both coins will adhere to a standard weight of 35 grams each and have a diameter of 44 millimeters. The face of both the coins will bear the lion capital of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend ‘Satyamev Jayate’ inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word ‘Bharat’ in Devnagri script and on the right periphery with the word ‘India’ in English.
17. World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reported a fresh incidence of MERS- CoV in which city?
[A] New York
[B] Abu Dhabi
[C] Berlin
[D] Rome
Answer: [B] Abu Dhabi
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reported a fresh incidence of MERS-CoV in Abu Dhabi. In 2012, Saudi Arabia was the initial country to identify the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
18. Dr. Mod Helmy, who was seen in the news, was associated with which field?
[A] Defence
[B] Medicine
[C] Sports
[D] Science
Answer: [B] Medicine
Recently, Google Doodle honoured the 122nd birthday of Dr. Mod Helmy, an Egyptian-German medical professional born in 1901 in Khartoum, Sudan. Despite the risks during the Holocaust, Dr. Helmy saved several Jews from Nazi persecution in Berlin.
19. India’s NSIL is scheduled to launch PSLV-C56 mission, with the primary payload of which country?
[A] UAE
[B] Singapore
[C] Australia
[D] Finland
Answer: [B] Singapore
New Space India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), revealed their second consecutive commercial space mission, named PSLV-C56, which is scheduled to launch on 31 July. The mission’s primary payload is the DS-SAR satellite from Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), intended for satellite imaging applications by Singaporean government agencies.
20. Which country holds the Presidency of COP28 conference?
[A] India
[B] UAE
[C] China
[D] Singapore
Answer: [B] UAE
In preparation for COP28, the UAE Presidency and the International Energy Agency (IEA) held the initial high-level dialogues focused on creating an energy transition aligned with the 1.5°C target. The effort is a joint undertaking with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and will receive support from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).