Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 11th April 2023
1. The ‘Draft National Curriculum Framework for School Education’ provides frame work for children of which age group?
[A] 3-18
[B] 5-15
[C] 5-10
[D] 6-18
Answer: [A] 3-18
The Draft National Curriculum Framework for School Education provides framework for educational curriculum for children age groups 3 to 18 years. The pre-draft of this framework was released recently and the Ministry of Education invites suggestions and public opinion.
2. Which Union Ministry notified amendments to the ‘Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics code) rules, 2021?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Finance
Answer: [B] Ministry of Electronics and IT
Ministry of Electronics and IT has notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These rules seek to create an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet. It seeks to enforce greater due diligence by online gaming and social media intermediaries.
3. ‘Juice Mission’, which was seen in the news is associated with which space agency?
[A] NSA
[B] ISRO
[C] ESA
[D] JAXA
Answer: [C] ESA
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (juice) Mission is scheduled to be launched on April 13 this year. It will explore Jupiter and its satellites – Callisto, Ganymede and Europa. The spacecraft will launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to the biggest planet in the solar system. ‘Juice’ will monitor Jupiter’s complex magnetic, radiation, and plasma environment in depth and its interplay with the moons.
4. ‘Hay Fever’ is associated with which country?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] Australia
[D] UK
Answer: [A] Japan
Japan’s Hay Fever is the seasonal allergic reaction caused due to large quantities of pollen from trees during the spring time. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio kishida recently made commitment to combat this health issue. It is a significant health issue in Japan during the spring months and affects millions of people each year.
5. Which state is associated with the ‘Electronic Knowledge Network’?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Assam
[C] Bihar
[D] Gujarat
Answer: [C] Bihar
RailTel Corporation of India Limited recently bagged an order worth around 76.10 crores from Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation (BSEDC) to implement and manage Electronic Knowledge Network (100 Mbps internet connectivity, wi-fi system and Smart Classes). This project will be implemented in the Academic / Administrative buildings of Government Engineering Colleges and Polytechnic Institutes within the state.
6. Idaho, which was seen in the news, is a state of which country?
[A] USA
[B] Australia
[C] UK
[D] Germany
Answer: [A] USA
Idaho is a rocky mountain state in the United States. Idaho recently introduced an abortion trafficking law to restrict travel for abortions. The bill makes it illegal for an adult to help minor get an abortion without parental consent.
7. As per ‘Indian Space Policy 2023’, which institution focusses on research and development of space technologies?
[A] NSIL
[B] ISRO
[C] DRDO
[D] IN-SPACe
Answer: [B] ISRO
The ‘Indian Space Policy 2023’ was approved recently by the Union Cabinet. It seeks to streamline the process of private participation in the Indian Space Sector. The policy will see Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies. It delineates responsibility to ISRO, New Space India Limited (NSIL, a space sector PSU), and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
8. ‘Hikikomori’ is a phenomenon of living in isolation, prevalently found in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] South Korea
[D] Israel
Answer: [A] Japan
In Japan, an estimated 1.5 million working-age people are living in isolation, a phenomenon known as hikikomori. Due to the phenomenon, they avoid social contact, further raising worries about their mental health and social well-being. According to a survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to about one-fifth of the specific incidents, with the most common reason being “quitting jobs”.
9. ‘Siren sphagnicola’ which was discovered recently, looks like which species?
[A] Turtle
[B] Eel
[C] Spider
[D] Cattle
Answer: [B] Eel
Siren sphagnicola is a newly discovered species of Siren. Sirens are elongated eel-like aquatic salamanders. The species was found in the seepage areas in the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain of the US. One of these species, Siren reticulate, was recently described.
10. As per the ‘Global Energy Monitor’s 9th Annual Survey’, which country accounted for the highest coal capacity as of 2023?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] Bangladesh
Answer: [B] China
As per the report released by US-based Global Energy Monitor, the operating coal fleet grew by 19.5 gigawatt in 2022 globally. As per the report, the war between Russia and Ukraine resulted in a slowdown of coal retirements. China accounted for 59 per cent of the new coal capacity while Bangladesh ranked the 9th among the rest of the countries after India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Indonesia, among others.
11. The Supreme Court set aside the orders of I&B Ministry and Kerala High Court, which refused to renew license of which channel?
[A] Alt News
[B] Media One
[C] News Minute
[D] Scroll
Answer: [B] Media One
The Supreme Court set aside the orders passed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) on January 31, 2022, and the Kerala High Court on March 2, 2022, refusing to renew Malayalam news channel Media One’s broadcast license. The apex court recently quashed the ‘sealed cover’ ban on Media One after the channel argued that it went against the principles of natural justice.
12. Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in which state/UT?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Assam
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] West Bengal
Answer: [C] Arunachal Pradesh
Idu Mishmi is a sub-tribe of the larger Mishmi group in Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet. Idu Mishmi people are currently opposing National Tiger Conservation Authority’s proposal to notify Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Paradesh as a tiger reserve due to concerns regarding access to the forest.
13. ‘Muthuvans’ are tribal cultivators in the hills of which state?
[A] Kerala-Tamil Nadu
[B] Odisha – Jharkhand
[C] Bihar – Jharkhand
[D] Karnataka – Maharashtra
Answer: [A] Kerala – Tamil Nadu
Muthuvans are tribal cultivators in the hills of Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore and Kerala’s Adimali and Devikulam forest regions. According to an expert committee appointed by the Kerala High Court regarding human-animal conflict and the wild tusker Arikompan, the Muthuvan tribal community have coexisted with the wild animals in Chinnakkanal, However, the subsequent unscientific resettlements in the region triggered an increase in human-animal conflict.
14. Which institution developed the ‘3D-printed Dhawan II engine’?
[A] ISRO
[B] DRDO
[C] Skyroot Aerospace
[D] Dhruv Aerospace
Answer: [C] Skyroot Aerospace
The 3D-printed Dhawan II engine was developed by Telangana-based private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace. It was recently tested-fired for a duration of record 200 seconds. Skyroot plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the year-end, as the updated Vikram II rocket scheduled to become launch-ready by next year.
15. When is the ‘National Maritime Day’ celebrated in India?
[A] April 2
[B] April 5
[C] April 7
[D] April 10
Answer: [B] April 5
‘National Maritime Day’ is celebrated on April 5 across the country to commemorate the sailing of the Indian commercial vessel, SS Loyalty. The ship sailed from Mumbai to London. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’ in November 2020 at the Maritime India Summit. It is a 10-year blueprint for the development of the Indian maritime sector.
16. Who is the head of the Finance Ministry committee set up to review the pension system for government employees?
[A] Nirmala Sitharaman
[B] T V Somanathan
[C] Shaktikanta Das
[D] M K Jain
Answer: [B] T V Somanathan
The Union Finance Ministry notified the formation of a committee to review the pension system for government employees. The four-member committee is headed by Finance Secretary T V Somanathan. It will also have Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT); Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure; and Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) as its members.
17. Which country signed several economic agreements in energy, agriculture among other sectors, with China?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] UK
[D] Italy
Answer: [A] France
France and China have signed several economic agreements involving major companies in sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture, culture and science during President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China. One of the deals will create a new assembly line French aircraft manufacturer Airbus’ Tianjin factory so the company can double its production capacity of A320 models.
18. UAE signed declaration with which country to begin talks on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement?
[A] Vietnam
[B] Israel
[C] USA
[D] Afghanistan
Answer: [A] Vietnam
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam have signed a joint declaration of intent to launch talks on establishing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between the two countries. The UAE is Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the Arab countries, accounting for 39% of its total trade, and the volume of non-oil trade between the two countries reached USD 8 billion in 2022.
19. Cabinet approves LIGO-India gravitational-wave detector to be built in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Answer: [B] Maharashtra
Indian government approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2600 crore. In the US, there are already two such LIGO observatories, The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be LIGO-India. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030.
20. Which institution manages the unclaimed deposits in India?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] BSE
Answer: [B] RBI
After ten years of inactivity from the depositor, the unclaimed deposits are transferred to RBI’s Depositors Education and Awareness Fund. The RBI has planned to open a web portal to allow depositors search for their unclaimed deposits across banks, and issued norms to make credit information companies (CICs) more accountable, measures aimed at helping consumers.