Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 6th & 7th August 2023
1. “National Moth Week is observed in which month?
[A] June
[B] July
[C] August
[D] September
Answer: [B] July
‘National Moth Week’ is observed across the Country during July 22 to july 28. It encourages scientists and non-scientists to participate in surveys of moths. A total of 26 species of moths were observed across the Nilgiris by students in Udhagamandalam throughout the National Moth Week. A total of 146 moths have been recorded in the Nilgiris over the years.
2. As per recent Home Ministry data, which state recorded the most number of missing girls between 2019 and 2021?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Manipur
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer: [B] Madhya Pradesh
Over 13.13 lakh girls and women went missing in the country between 2019 and 2021, with Madhya Pradesh reporting the highest cases at nearly two lakhs, followed by West Bengal. The data, which was presented by the Union Ministry of Home Ministry (MHA), revealed that 10,61,648 women above 18 years and 2,51,430 girls below that age went missing between 2019 and 2021 across the country. The data was compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau.
3. What number of Income Tax Returns were filed for AY 2023-2024 in India?
[A] 4.77 crore
[B] 5.77 crore
[C] 6.77 crore
[D] 7.77 crore
Answer: [C] 6.77 crore
The Income-tax Department announced that there is a surge in filing of Income-tax Returns (ITRS), resulting in a new record of ITRS filed. The total number of ITRS for AY 2023-24 filed till 31st July, 2023 are more than 6.77 crore, which is 16.1% more than the total ITRS for AY 2022-23 (5.83 crore) filed till 31st july 2022. Over 64.33 lakh ITRs were filed on a single day-on 31st July, 2023.
4. Which institution barred intermediaries for annuities business?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] PFRDA
[D] IRDAI
Answer: [C] PFRDA
Pension regulator PFRDA has barred Annuity Service Providers (ASPs) from deploying any agency of intermediaries for sourcing annuities business from NPS subscribers upon their retirement or exit from the NPS. Annuities under National Pension System (NPS) can be issued by ASPs only under direct channels, as per the official sources.
5. Foxconn subsidiary inked 1,600 crore deal with which state to set up electronic components manufacturing facility?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Karnataka
Answer: [C] Tamil Nadu
Taiwanese firm Foxconn Technology Group, a key supplier to Apple Inc., signed a letter of Intent with the Tamil Nadu government to invest 1,600 crore to establish a manufacturing facility in Kancheepuram district. The letter of intent was signed in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Foxconn Chairman Young Liu. The facility will potentially employ 6,000 people.
6. Which F-1 racing driver has secured eighth consecutive win, after clinching ‘Belgium Grand Prix’?
[A] Lewis Hamilton
[B] Max Verstappen
[C] Charles Leclerc
[D] Carlos Sainz
Answer: [B] Max Verstappen
Formula One racing driver Max Verstappen secured his eighth win in a row, one short of the all-time record, at the Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen won the race with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez clinching second position and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at third place.
7. Which country has won the Spanish Federation hockey tournament?
[A] Spain
[B] India
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Answer: [B] India
The Indian women’s hockey team defeated the hosts Spain 3-0 and win the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation International Tournament. Vandana Katariya (22nd minute), Monika (48th) and Udita (58th) were the goal scorers as India remained unbeaten in the tournament.
8. Who is the chairperson of the ‘Commission for Other Backward Classes’?
[A] Justice Sadasivan
[B] Justice Rohini
[C] Justice Karnan
[D] Justice Ranjan Gogoi
Answer: [B] Justice Rohini
The Rohini Commission, constituted to examine the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCS), has submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu after 13 extensions. The Commission for Other Backward Classes was appointed to examine the sub-categorisation in the Central List of OBCs. Justice G Rohini, a retired chief justice of the Delhi High Court is its chairperson.
9. As part of second phase of CPEC, China signed six agreements with which country?
[A] India
[B] Pakistan
[C] USA
[D] Russia
Answer: [B] Pakistan
Pakistan and China ink six agreements to help undertake the second phase of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects under a new model. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng witnessed the signing ceremony to mark 10 years of the CPEC. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province, is opposed by India as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
10. Which country has unveiled its first nuclear reactor built from scratch in decades?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Ukraine
[D] USA
Answer: [D] USA
The first nuclear reactor in seven years has recently entered service in Georgia in the United States. At its full output of 1,100 megawatts of electricity, Unit 3 can power 500,000 homes and businesses. The unit which is now in cornmercial operation, entered seven years late and USD 17 billion over budget. A number of other utilities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are receiving the electricity, in addition to the 2.7 million customers.
11. Who is the highest goal scorer with headers in football history, as of 2023?
[A] Lionel Messi
[B] Cristiano Ronaldo
[C] Gerd Muller
[D] Kylian Mbappe
Answer: [B] Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo recently scored his 145th headed goal, breaking the long-standing record of late German striker Gerd Muller. Ronaldo achieved the feat when he scored his first goal of the season for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr with a header against Tunisian club Monastir in a 2-1 win.
12. Iga Swiatek, who began her 70th straight week as the World No. 1 in the latest WTA Rankings, is from which country?
[A] USA
[B] Poland
[C] Russia
[D] Ukraine
Answer: [B] Poland
Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek began her 70th straight week as the World No. 1 in the latest WTA Rankings. Four-time Major winner Swiatek increased the gap between herself and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka by winning her maiden WTA 250 title in Warsaw, her home tournament.
13. Which Union Ministry publishes the ‘Yojana Classics’?
[A] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[B] Ministry of Communication
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Art and Culture
Answer: [A] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
India’s top publishing house, Publications Division, has introduced Yojana Classics’ a collection centered on diverse thematic subjects. It functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The series is compiled from carefully selected works published in Yojana, the renowned monthly publication by Publications Division since 1957.
14. ‘Rocket Force’ is the strategic and tactical missile force of which country?
[A] Ukraine
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Germany
Answer: [B] China
The Rocket Force of China’s People’s Liberation Army is responsible for the strategic and tactical missile operations and is tasked with managing the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Recently, China introduced fresh leadership for its Rocket Force, appointing new officials to replace the two previous generals who were in charge of the country’s missile forces.
15. ‘Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, located in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] Japan
[C] Indonesia
[D] Philippines
Answer: [A] Australia
‘Great Barrier Reef’ is the world’s largest coral reef system, located in Australia. UNESCO, the United Nations organization responsible for deciding on the potential in danger listing of the Great Barrier Reef, chose to postpone the decision for another year rather than voting on it. This is mainly due to the change in approach by the Australian government.
16. ‘Iberian wolf is native to which countries?
[A] Australia and New Zealand
[B] Japan and China
[C] Spain and Portugal
[D] USA and Canada
Answer: [C] Spain and Portugal
The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is native to Spain and Portugal’s Iberian Peninsula. The wolf was declared extinct in the Andalusia region in 2020, as reported by the regional government. No evidence of wolf presence was found in Andalusia during the same year.
17. Which institution introduced the ‘AI/ML- based Finger Minutiae Record- Finger Image Record (FMR-FIR)’?
[A] RBI
[B] UIDAI
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Ministry of Finance
Answer: [B] UIDAI
To counter AePS fraud involving spoofed fingerprints in Aadhaar authentication, the UIDAI has introduced an in-house Al/ML-based Finger Minutiae Record- Finger Image Record (FMR- FIR) system. This technology verifies the authenticity of a fingerprint by detecting cloned fingerprints during the authentication process.
18. Jim Skea has been elected as the Chair of which institution?
[A] FAO
[B] IPCC
[C] WMO
[D] World Bank
Answer: [B] IPCC
Jim Skea of the United Kingdom has been elected as the new Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). WMO and the United Nations Environment Programme are co- sponsors of the IPCC. The main responsibility of the IPCC Chair is to supervise the reports published in every assessment cycle.
19. Which Indian city is to play host to the ‘MotoGP Bharat race’?
[A] Greater Noida
[B] Pune
[C] Mysuru
[D] Panjim
Answer: [A] Greater Noida
The Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida is set to host India’s inaugural MotoGP Bharat race, making it the 31st country to host a motorcycle grand prix. Despite having previously held Formula 1 races, this will mark the first time India hosts the premier motorcycle race.
20. As per StanC research report, India’s per capita income is likely to grow to what amount, by fiscal 2030?
[A] USD 1000
[B] USD 2000
[C] USD 4000
[D] USD 5000
Answer: [C] USD 4000
The country’s per capita income is likely to grow by close to 70 per cent to USD 4,000 by fiscal 2030 from USD 2,450 in fiscal 2023. This will help the country to become a middle-income economy with USD 6-trillion GDP. Per capita income/GDP has risen from USD 460 in fiscal 2001 to USD 1,413 in fiscal 2011 and to USD 2,150 in fiscal 2021. The biggest growth driver will be external trade, followed by household consumption.