Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 4th & 5th May 2024

1. What is ‘Antares’?

A. Submarine

B. AI tool

C. Red supergiant star

D. Invasive plant

• The Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) recorded the moon passing in front of Antares, a massive red supergiant star in Scorpius constellation. Antares, 10,000 times brighter than the Sun, is 700 times its diameter and lies 600 light-years away. Despite its size, Antares has low density and temperature, around 6,100°F (3,400°C), giving it a ruddy color.

2. According to Invest India report, India’s e-commerce market is expected to grow to $325 billion by which year?

A. 2025

B. 2027

C. 2030

D. 2040

• Invest India projects India’s e-commerce to reach $325 billion by 2030, driven by 500 million consumers and widespread internet access. It anticipates India becoming the 3rd largest online retail market by 2030. The agency, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, revealed in 2022, e-commerce was worth $70 billion, constituting 7% of retail.

3. Recently, which organization has advised all states and UTs to “completely prohibit” all harmful sharp threads or “manjha”?

A. National Green Tribunal

B. Animal Welfare Board of India

C. National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board

D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has urged states and UTs to fully prohibit harmful sharp threads or “manjha.” The Delhi High Court instructed the Delhi government to establish a policy for compensating victims of accidents caused by Chinese manjha. In 2017, the NGT mandated a complete ban on manjha.
• AWBI, a statutory advisory body founded under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, operates from Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, Haryana.

4. Ajrakh textile craft is mainly associated with which state?

A. Rajasthan

B. Gujarat

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Kerala

• The Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks awarded the Geographical Indication certificate to ‘Kutch Ajrakh’ artisans from Gujarat. Ajrakh, a textile craft deeply rooted in Gujarat’s culture, especially in Kutch, Sindh, and Barmer, involves intricate hand-block printing on cotton cloth. Its name derives from ‘Azrak’, meaning indigo, a key dye used.

5. Which day is celebrated as ‘World Tuna Day’ every year?

A. May.01

B. May.02

C. May.03

D. May.04

• World Tuna Day, celebrated annually on May 2nd, highlights the decline in global tuna stocks and the necessity of enforcing international regulations for their preservation. Tuna, vital for both developed and developing nations, faces threats from overfishing. The day emphasizes sustainable fishing practices, reducing bycatch, and promoting international cooperation to ensure future tuna supplies. It serves as a crucial reminder of the urgent need to address the challenges confronting the tuna industry globally.

6. Recently, who has been awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE, the International Chess Federation?

A. Vaishali Ramesh Babu

B. Surya Sekhar Ganguly

C. Savitha Shri Baskar

D. Tania Sachdev

• Indian Chess Prodigy Vaishali Ramesh Babu, awarded Grandmaster by FIDE, highlighted India’s rising prominence in chess. Vaishali became India’s third female Grandmaster after Humpy and Dronavalli. She achieved the 2500 ELO points at the Llobregat Open, with FIDE formally granting her the title at the recent Candidates Tournament in Toronto.

7. Recently, which city is constructing the world’s largest airport, Al Maktoum International Airport?

A. Mumbai

B. Dubai

C. London

D. New York

• Dubai is developing the world’s largest airport, Al Maktoum International Airport, under Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s leadership. With a capacity for 260 million passengers annually, it will feature 400 terminal gates and five parallel runways. Beyond transportation, it aims to integrate into urban life, commerce, and global trade.

8. Bhimtal Lake, recently seen in news due to forest fires, is located in which state?

A. Gujarat

B. Uttarakhand

C. Kerala

D. Punjab

• Recently, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter collected water from Bhimtal Lake in Nainital, Uttarakhand to help control a nearby forest fire. The Indian Army and the IAF were called in to help control the blaze, with MI-17 choppers lifting water from the lake for firefighting efforts. Bhimtal Lake, Uttarakhand’s largest lake in the Nainital district, is a centerpiece of the Kumaon region, dubbed India’s “lake district.” Named after the Mahabharata’s Bhima, it formed naturally due to Earth’s crust shifts.

9. What is the theme of ‘World Press Freedom Day 2024’?

A. A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis

B. Shaping a Future of Rights

C. Journalism under Digital Siege

D. Information as Public Good

• World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3, 2024, focuses on “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.” Emphasizing journalism’s role in addressing global environmental issues, it highlights the importance of a free press in informing the public and holding decision-makers accountable. Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, it commemorates the Declaration of Windhoek, promoting press freedom globally.

10. According to IQAir, which city has recently been ranked as the most polluted city globally?

A. Kathmandu

B. New Delhi

C. Pokhara

D. Hyderabad

• According to IQAir, Kathmandu is the most polluted city in the world as of May 2, 2024. IQAir is a Swiss technology company that monitors the pollution levels of 101 cities in real time. The Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal has advised residents to wear masks due to the alarming increase in air pollution in the Kathmandu valley. In 2023, IQAir’s World Air Quality report ranked India as the third most polluted country and New Delhi as the most polluted capital city.

11. Pension Department has recently launched an online portal for government retirees. what is the name of the portal?

A. Abhyukt portal

B. Vriddhi portal

C. Bhavishya portal

D. Vikas portal

• The Pension Department has launched an online portal called Bhavishya for tracking pension payments and sanctions for government retirees. The portal is integrated with the pension processing and payment services of five banks, including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank.

12. Recently, NPCI signed an agreement with which African country for UPI-like instant payment services?

A. Namibia

B. Tanzania

C. Kenya

D. Nigeria

• NPCI’s overseas arm signed a pact with the Bank of Namibia to develop a UPI-like instant payment system for Namibia, leveraging India’s UPI technology and experiences.
• The collaboration aims to modernize Namibia’s financial ecosystem, enhancing accessibility, affordability, and connectivity with domestic and international payment networks. It also emphasizes interoperability, signaling a significant step towards improving financial inclusion and digital transactions in Namibia.