Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 18th July 2023

1. Which state/UT approved a proposal to start Teacher Interface for Excellence (TIE) programme?

[A] Uttar Pradesh

[B] Rajasthan

[C] West Bengal

[D] Assam

Answer: [B] Rajasthan

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a proposal for starting the Teacher Interface for Excellence (TIE) programme. Under this, teachers of government universities, colleges and polytechnic colleges will get training in prestigious institutions of the country and abroad. A target has been set to train 500 teachers from across the State this year. The State government will spend ₹23.50 crore on research and training facilities for teachers during 2023-24.

2. India recently launched the trade transaction in rupees with which country?

[A] Sri Lanka

[B] Nepal

[C] Bangladesh

[D] Myanmar

Answer: [C] Bangladesh

Bangladesh and India launched the trade transaction in rupees, a move aimed at reducing dependence on the US dollar and strengthening regional currency and trade. This is the first time Bangladesh has done bilateral trade with a foreign country in addition to the US dollar.

3. What is the Net direct tax collections till July, in this financial year?

[A] Rs 2.75 lakh crore

[B] Rs 4.75 lakh crore

[C] Rs 6.75 lakh crore

[D] Rs 8.75 lakh crore

Answer: [B] Rs 4.75 lakh crore

The Net direct tax collections grew 15.8 per cent to Rs 4.75 lakh crore from April 1-July 9 this year. This is an indication of economic activity and tax compliance measures, data released by the income tax department showed. With this, the government has achieved 26.05 per cent of its total budget estimate of Rs 18.23 lakh crore for 2023-24.

4. Vilnius, which hosted the NATO Summit, is in which country?

[A] UK

[B] Germany

[C] Lithuania

[D] Philippines

Answer: [C] Lithuania

NATO country leaders and delegations gathered in Vilnius for the alliance’s summit. The NATO summit is expected to bring together 48 delegations with 2,400 members, including 40 heads of state. Lithuania is hosting an event of this scale for the first time. It is a country of northeastern Europe, the southernmost and largest of the three Baltic states.

5. As per the UN data, India lifted how many people out of poverty in the last 15 years?

[A] 11.5 crore

[B] 21.5 crore

[C] 41.5 crore

[D] 61.5 crore

Answer: [C] 41.5 crore

United Nations has said that India has registered remarkable reduction in poverty with 41.5 crore people coming out of it in just 15 years. The UN said, 25 countries, including India, successfully halved their global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) values within 15 years. These 25 countries include Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam besides India.

6. Mark Rutte, who has quit politics recently, was the Prime Minister of which country?

[A] Canada

[B] Maxico

[C] The Netherlands

[D] France

Answer: [C] The Netherlands

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that he was quitting politics after nearly 13 years in power. He was the longest-serving leader in the history of the Netherlands as he served since 2010. He announced his resignation after failing to reach consensus among coalition partners on his government’s refugee policy.

7. When was the Athletics Federation of India formed in India?

[A] 1936

[B] 1943

[C] 1962

[D] 1972

Answer: [B] 1943

The Athletics Federation of India has been adjudged as the best member federation in Asia by the Asian Athletics Association. Olympian Adille Sumariwalla, the AFI president, received the award at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Asian Athletics Association in Bangkok. It is the national governing body for Athletics sport in India, and is responsible for conducting competitions in the country. It was formed in 1943.

8. The GST Council imposed what percent tax on online gaming, horse racing and casinos?

[A] 5 per cent

[B] 12 per cent

[C] 18 per cent

[D] 28 per cent

Answer: [D] 28 per cent

Over 130 online gaming companies and industry associations have approached the Centre urging it reconsider the 28 per cent GST on the full-face value for online gaming. The GST Council imposed a 28 per cent tax on online gaming, horse racing and casinos. The effective date for the 28 per cent GST levy on online gaming will be announced after amendments to GST law.

9. ‘Schedule M’ which was seen in the news, is associated with which field?

[A] Automobile

[B] Pharmaceutical

[C] Finance

[D] Defence

Answer: [B] Pharmaceutical

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya has directed regulatory authorities to conduct risk-based inspections and audits of manufacturing plants. He also added that Schedule M shall be made compulsory for the MSME pharma sector in a phased manner. Schedule M part of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 deals with ‘Good Manufacturing Practices’ for pharmaceuticals that should be followed by pharmaceutical manufacturing units in India.

10. Which country has deposited USD 2 billion in Pakistan’s central bank?

[A] Chine

[B] Saudi Arabia

[C] UAE

[D] Russia

Answer: [B] Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has deposited USD 2 billion in Pakistan’s central bank, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced. This was done just a day before the International Monetary Fund’s board is expected to give the final nod to the provision of USD 3 billion in bailout funds under a stand-by arrangement.

11. Which country has delivered SCALP long range missiles to Ukraine?

[A] USA

[B] UK

[C] France

[D] Canada

Answer: [C] France

France has already made a delivery of a number of SCALP long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, a military source said, after President Emmanuel Macron announced the supplies. SCALP is an air- launched British-French missile known to UK forces as the “Storm Shadow” and the longest- range Western weapon in Ukraine.

12. Ash Gardner, who was seen in the news, is a cricketer from which country?

[A] Australia

[B] England

[C] South Africa

[D] New Zealand

Answer: [A] Australia

Australia’s all-rounder Ash Gardner has once again been crowned the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for June 2023. This is the third monthly award of her career so far after the ones she won in December in 2022 and February this year. The Australian team recently won the Ashes Test match.

13. Who emerged as the female gymnast in the individual all-around competition in the Asian Games selection trials?

[A] Pranati Nayak

[B] Dipa Karmakar

[C] Meghana GundlaPally

[D] Aditi Ashok

Answer: [B] Dipa Karmakar

Ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar secured her place in the Asian Games squad, following a 21- month suspension due to a doping violation. Dipa Karmakar garnered the maximum points to emerge as the number one female gymnast in the individual all-around competition in the Asian Games selection trials at the Kalinga Stadium.

14. Praveen Kumar and Nishad Kumar, who were seen in the news, play which sports?

[A] Shooting

[B] High Jump

[C] Golf

[D] Football

Answer: [B] High Jump

Para-athlete Praveen Kumar became the first para-athlete from Uttar Pradesh to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics after winning a bronze medal in the men’s high jump T64 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. Kumar’s medal was the first for India at the championships. India’s Nishad Kumar clinches silver in Men’s High Jump event at Para Athletics World Championships.

15. Which city hosted the third G20 Sherpas meeting that drafted the Leaders Declaration on key issues of global importance?

[A] Mysuru

[B] Hampi

[C] Kolkata

[D] Jodhpur

Answer: [B] Hampi

The third G20 Sherpas meeting that drafted the Leaders Declaration on key issues of global importance concluded in Hampi, Karnataka. Over 120 delegates from G20 members, invitee countries, and various international and regional organizations came together to jointly draft and co-create the Leaders Declaration in this historic city and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

16. Which state/UT Rural Livelihoods Mission bagged the SKOCH Award under the theme “State of Governance India 2047”?

[A] Karnataka

[B] Jammu and Kashmir

[C] Kerala

[D] Goa

Answer: [B] Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) has bagged the SKOCH Award under the theme “State of Governance India 2047” in Gold category. It was recognised for its outstanding efforts in creating marketing avenues for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the Union Territory.

17. Ministry of Defence has signed a MoU with which institution to promote use of millets among armed forces?

[A] NABARD

[B] FCI

[C] FSSAI

[D] ICMR

Answer: [C] FSSAI

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. It aims for promoting the use of millets and healthy eating practices among the armed forces and ensure availability of safe and nutritious food.

18. What is the Retail inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), in June 2023?

[A] 4.81%

[B] 5.81%

[C] 6.81%

[D] 8.81%

Answer: [A] 4.81 %

Retail inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 4.81 percent in June this year. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for the last month rises to 4.49 percent as compared to 2.91 percent in May, mainly due to a rise in vegetable prices.

19. What per cent of GST is levied on cancer- fighting drugs, medicines for rare diseases, and food products for special medical purposes?

[A] 0%

[B] 2%

[C] 5%

[D] 12%

Answer: [A] 0 %

GST Council has decided to exempt cancer- fighting drugs, medicines for rare diseases, and food products for special medical purposes from GST tax. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently chaired the 50th GST Council meeting in New Delhi. She also said the Council has also decided to exempt GST from satellite launch services by private operators.

20. James Webb Space Telescope is associated with which space agency?

[A] ISRO

[B] ESA

[C] NASA

[D] JAXA

Answer: [C] NASA

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope completes its first year of science on July 12. The space agency will commemorate this anniversary by releasing a new science image in a live stream. NASA unveiled a brand-new Webb science image on July 12, showcasing the birth of a star in the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.