Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 8th January 2024

1. Sukanta Majumdar, who is one of the recipients of the Sansad Ratna Awards, belong to which political party?

A. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

B. Shiv Sena

C. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

D. Indian National Congress

• Sukanta Majumdar, one of the recipients of the Sansad Ratna Awards, belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Sansad Ratna Awards are presented annually to recognize the top-performing parliamentarians based on their performance in the Lok Sabha. Along with Majumdar, other recipients of the award include Shrikant Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena, Sudheer Gupta from BJP, Amol Ramsing Kolhe from NCP, and Kuldeep Rai Sharma from the Congress.

2. The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, that was recently in the news, is located in which state?

A. Madhya Pradesh

B. Karnataka

C. West Bengal

D. Chhattisgarh

• The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, which was recently in the news due to issues related to encroachment, is located in the state of Chhattisgarh. The tiger reserve, situated in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, has faced challenges due to illegal encroachment in its buffer area. The Chhattisgarh high court ordered the removal of encroachers from the reserve, following a legal battle where the court rejected the petition filed by the encroachers. This action was based on evidence, including ISRO satellite imagery, which showed that the encroached region was once dense forest until 2012.

3. Kyaukphyu SEZ and deep-sea port, that was recently in news, is located in which country?

A. Malaysia

B. Indonesia

C. Myanmar

D. Thailand

• China is pushing to expedite the construction of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This initiative aims to ensure smoother access to the Bay of Bengal and is being developed by the Kyaukphyu SEZ Deep Seaport Co. Ltd, a joint venture between the CITIC Myanmar Port Investment Ltd and the Myanmar government-backed Kyaukphyu SEZ Management Committee. The project involves the construction of the Kyaukphyu SEZ and deep-sea port. The development of this SEZ is part of China’s broader efforts to expand its economic and strategic footprint in Southeast Asia.

4. Sheikh Hasina, who recently secured a record fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, belongs to which political party?

A. Bangladesh Nationalist Party

B. Jatiya Party

C. Awami League

D. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

• Sheikh Hasina, who recently secured a record fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, belongs to the Awami League. Under her leadership, the Awami League won 200 seats in the 300-seat parliament in the Bangladesh general elections. This significant victory not only solidified Sheikh Hasina’s position as the Prime Minister but also reaffirmed the Awami League’s strong presence and influence in Bangladeshi politics.

5. What is the brand name of the environmental label under the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme recently launched by the environment ministry?

A. Vriksha

B. Harit

C. Pramaan

D. Vanikaran

• The brand name of the environmental label provided under the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme, recently launched by the environment ministry, is PRAMAAN. This label is designed to inform both domestic and international consumers about the origin and source of forest and tree-based products. The certification scheme, which includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and chain of custody certification, aims to encourage sustainable forest management and agro-forestry practices. The PRAMAAN label plays a crucial role in addressing concerns regarding deforestation and illicit timber trade, thereby enhancing the marketability and export potential of India’s wood-based products.

6. What is the amount of hydropower India has agreed to purchase from Nepal according to the recent agreements signed between the two countries?

A. 5,000 MW

B. 10,000 MW

C. 15,000 MW

D. 20,000 MW

• According to the recent agreements signed between India and Nepal, India has agreed to purchase 10,000 MW of hydropower from Nepal. This agreement will facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India over the next 10 years. The agreement was one of several signed during the comprehensive talks held between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart, N P Saud.

7. Smruti Mandir and Deekshabhoomi, which were recently in news, are located in which city?

A. Mumbai

B. Pune

C. Nagpur

D. Delhi

• Smruti Mandir and Deekshabhoomi, both of which were recently in the news, are located in the city of Nagpur. Smruti Mandir is known for housing the memorial of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, while Deekshabhoomi is a significant landmark where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism along with lakhs of his followers. These sites hold historical and cultural importance and recently attracted attention due to the visit of a Chinese delegation of Hindi scholars. Their visit to these landmarks in Nagpur was part of a cultural and educational exchange initiative.

8. The NAMASTE Portal that was recently in news, is related to which of the following fields?

A. Traditional Medicine

B. Space Research

C. Environmental Conservation

D. Digital Education Technology

• The NAMASTE (National Ayush Morbidity and Standardised Terminologies Electronic) Portal, which was recently in the news, is associated with the field of Traditional Medicine. This portal plays a significant role in the documentation and standardization of terminologies in the traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Its development and launch were integral to the inclusion of traditional medicine terminologies in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases list.

9. What is the primary goal of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission scheduled to launch aboard India’s PSLV?

A. To study Earth’s atmosphere

B. To explore distant galaxies

C. For solar observation

D. To map the Martian surface

• The primary goal of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission, which is scheduled to launch aboard India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is to demonstrate precision formation flying between two satellites for solar observation. This innovative mission aims to create an artificial eclipse by precisely positioning the two small satellites, namely the Coronagraph spacecraft and the solar-disc-shaped Occulter spacecraft, approximately 150 meters apart.
• This configuration will allow the Occulter to cast its shadow onto the Coronagraph’s telescope, effectively blocking the Sun’s direct light and enabling the observation of the Sun’s faint corona in visible, ultraviolet, and polarised light for extended periods.

10. Which state government has recently launched an app-based electric bike taxi service called ‘Baayu’?

A. Jharkhand

B. Assam

C. West Bengal

D. Odisha

• Assam government has launched ‘Baayu’, an app-based electric bike taxi service by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC). It is India’s first decentralized, app-based 100% electric bike taxi service that was flagged off by Assam Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya in Guwahati.

11. In which city was the All India Conference of director generals and inspector generals of police held in 2024?

A. Mumbai

B. Jaipur

C. New Delhi

D. Kolkata

• The All-India Conference of director generals and inspector generals of police in 2024 was held in Jaipur. This annual conference, a significant event in the Indian policing and internal security calendar, brought together top police officials from across the country. The conference focused on various critical issues such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, narcotics smuggling, and prison reforms.

12. What is the primary focus of the “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” initiative recently unveiled?

A. Promotion of Water Sports

B. Adoption of Eco-Friendly Practices for Inland Vessels

C. Enhancement of Fishing Techniques

D. Development of Waterway Infrastructure

• The primary focus of the “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” initiative, unveiled at the inaugural Inland Waterways Development Council meeting, is the adoption of eco-friendly practices for inland vessels.
• This initiative aims to contribute to sustainable development in waterway transportation by encouraging environmentally responsible operations and practices within the sector. The guidelines are designed to facilitate a transition towards greener and more sustainable methods in the operation and maintenance of inland water vessels, aligning with broader environmental objectives and sustainable development goals.