Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 31st May 2023
1. Which country test-fired the long-range ballistic missile Kheibar?
[A] IsraelAnswer: [B] Iran
Kheibar is a long-range ballistic missile with a potential range of 2,000 kilometres. It was recently test fired by Iran. It is capable of reaching a range of 2,000 kilometers and carrying a warhead weighing up to 1.5 metric tons. The United States claimed that Iran’s missile program posed a ‘serious threat’.
2. Which city is set to launch ‘Kaveri 2.0’ web- based property registration application?
[A] Chennai [B] BengaluruAnswer: [B] Bengaluru
‘Kaveri 2.0’ web-based property registration application is set to be rolled out by the Revenue Department in all 43 sub-registrar offices in Bengaluru. Out of 256 offices, the Karnataka state government so far has launched the app in 165 offices in 24 districts.
3. Araku Valley Coffee, which was seen in the news, is from which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu [B] Andhra Pradesh [C] Assam [D] West BengalAnswer: [B] Andhra Pradesh
Araku Valley Coffee from Andhra radish recently received the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) certificate from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Coffee and pepper, being procured by the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) from the tribal coffee farmers of Chintapalli division, received the organic certificate.
4. Which country recently launched its home- grown space rocket ‘Nuri’?
[A] Russia [B] South Africa [C] Israel [D] UAEAnswer: [B] South Korea
South Korea recently launched its home-grown space rocket, Nuri. It successfully delivered a commercial-grade satellite into orbit. The three- stage, 155-foot-tall rocket successfully deployed all of its payloads into their designated orbits, as per the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), South Korea’s space agency.
5. Tina Turner, which was seen in the news, was associated with which profession?
[A] AuthorAnswer: [B] Singer
Tina Turner, a famous American musician, recently passed away at the age of 83. She is the first African-American woman rock-and-roll artist. Turner announced her retirement in 2000, a year after releasing her final solo album, Twenty Four Seven. Her autobiographical My Love Story’ was released in 2018.
6. Special Protection Group (SPG) is the force responsible for the security of which personality?
[A] President [B] Prime Minister [C] Chief Justice of India [D] Vice PresidentAnswer: [B] Prime Minister
The government has unveiled a new rule for the Special Protection Group (SPG), the force responsible for the security of the Prime Minister. The SPG will now be handled by an officer not below the rank of an Additional Director-General belonging to the Indian Police Service.
7. ‘Clarion-Clipperton Zone’, which was seen in the news, is located in which ocean?
[A] Indian Ocean [B] Pacific Ocean [C] Atlantic Ocean [D] Arctic OceanAnswer: [B] Pacific Ocean
Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean is known for hosting critical minerals needed to build batteries. Researchers have discovered more than 5,000 species, with over 88 to 92 per cent of them spotted for the first time.
8. As per NASA’s spacecraft Juno, lightning in which planet is similar to that of the Earth?
[A] Mercury [B] Jupiter [C] Mars [D] VenusAnswer: [B] Jupiter
A new observation by NASA’s spacecraft Juno revealed that lightning in Jupiter is very similar to that of Earth. Both the brownish ammonia clouds that cover the giant planet and the clouds that blanket Earth are made of water.
9. El Popo Volcano, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Indonesia [B] Mexico [C] Japan [D] PhilippinesAnswer: [B] Mexico
Popocatepetl, commonly known as El Popo volcano, has recently started spewing plumes. It is situated in Mexico. Popocatepetl means “smoking mountain” in the Nahuatl language. After lying dormant for more than 70 years, it has been spewing toxic fumes, ash, and lumps of incandescent rock.
10. As per the ‘State of Ransomware 2023’ report, what per cent of India-based organisations were victims to ransomware?
[A] 53 [B] 63 [C] 73 [D] 93Answer: [C] 73
The ‘State of Ransomware 2023’ report revealed that 73 per cent of India-based organisations that were surveyed were victims to ransomware. As per the report, 43 percent of organizations that were surveyed had their data encrypted but still had to pay ransom.
11. Fentanyl, which was seen in the news, is a drug used as?
[A] Antiseptic [B] Analgesic [C] Expectorant [D] AntipyreticsAnswer: [B] Analgesic
The overdose of Fentanyl has resulted in deaths of one in five youngsters aged between 15 to 24 in California. It is a highly potent drug mainly used as an analgesic. The US sanctioned more than a dozen people and entities in China and Mexico that are linked to the production and distribution of counterfeit and fentanyl-laced pills.
12. Volt Typhoon is a hacking group backed by which country?
[A] USA [B] China [C] Russia [D] IsraelAnswer: [B] China
Volt Typhoon is a China-backed hacking group. It was recently revealed that this hacking group is developing capabilities that could potentially disrupt critical communication infrastructure between the US and Asia during future crises. Volt Typhoon has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.
13. The ‘Implementation Plan for Advancing Climate, Environment and Health Science and Services’ is for how many years?
[A] 5 [B] 10 [C] 20 [D] 25Answer: [B] 10
The 2023-2033 Implementation Plan for Advancing Climate, Environment and Health Science and Services was endorsed recently by the WMO. It is a 10-year plan that aims to integrate and scale up health services. Speakers at the 19th World Meteorological Congress also raised concerns over extreme heat and the need to strengthen early warning systems.
14. Murali Sreeshankar, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Long Jump [B] Shooting [C] Wrestling [D] CricketAnswer: [A] Long Jump
India’s Murali Sreeshankar successfully defended his title in the men’s long jump event at the International Jumping Meeting 2023 in Kallithea, Greece. The 24-year-old M Sreeshankar registered his season-best jump of8.1 8m to beat compatriot and national record holder Jeswin Aldrin, who claimed silver with an effort of 7.85m.
15. Which bank launched ‘Sarathi platform’ for easy PoS onboarding of merchants?
[A] Yes Bank [B] Axis Bank [C] Karur Vysya Bank [D] HDFC bankAnswer: [B] Axis Bank
Axis Bank launched ‘Sarathi,’ a first-of-its-kind digital onboarding journey for merchants to adopt Electronic Data Captúre (EDC) or Point of Sale (PoS). Sarathi offers merchants a streamlined and hassle-free experience. Sarathi’s features include immediate status updates, eliminating the need for follow-up visits, and the ability to transact on the same day their application is processed.
16. Japan approved additional sanctions against which country and banned exports to its military-related organisations?
[A] Russia [B] USA [C] India [D] United KingdomAnswer: [A] Russia
Japan approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to Russian military-related organisations. The Cabinet approval shows Japan is in step with the rest of the Group of Seven countries that agreed during their summit in Hiroshima last week to maintain and strengthen sanctions against Russia. Japan also criticised its deal to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus.
17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released which coin to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building?
[A] Rs 50 [B] Rs 75 [C] Rs 100 [D] Rs 200Answer: [B] Rs 75
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a special commemorative postage stamp and a 75 coin to mark the inauguration of thé new Parliament building. He released the coin and the stamp at the inauguration event held at the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building.
18. Which bank topped PSU lenders chart in profit and loan growth in FY23?
[A] Canara Bank [B] State Bank of India [C] Bank of Maharashtra [D] Bank of BarodaAnswer: [C] Bank of Maharashtra
Staté-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in terms of loan and deposit growth in percentage terms during 2022-23. The bank also recorded highest growth in profitability with bottom-line growing almost 126 per cent to 2,602 crore during the year.
19. World’s first ever ‘Plastic Fall’ has been predicted in which city?
[A] New York [B] Kyiv [C] Paris [D] BerlinAnswer: [C] Paris
Plastic fall is a weather phenomenon that involves the downpour of microplastics from the sky. The first-ever plastics pollution weather forecast predicted a plastic fall in Paris. According to the report, the city will experience about 40-48 kilograms of free-floating plastic bits daily.
20. Which country recently launched its home- grown space rocket ‘Nuri’?
[A] Russia [B] South Korea [C] Israel [D] UAEAnswer: [B] South Korea
South Korea recently launched its home-grown space rocket, Nuri. It successfully delivered a commercial-grade satellite into orbit. The three- stage, 155-foot-tall rocket successfully deployed all of its payloads into their designated orbits, as per the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), South Korea’s space agency.