Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 18th May 2023

1. Which country is the host of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)?

[A] India

[B] Sri Lanka

[C] Bangladesh

[D] Myanmar

Answer: [C] Bangladesh

The 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) is being organized to bring together states and principal maritime partners of the region to discuss the prospects of regional cooperation for Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). It is being held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) was started in 2016.

2. The World Health Organisation announced the end of the 10-month long global health emergency for which disease?

[A] Covid-19

[B] MPox

[C] Polio

[D] Swine Flu

Answer: [B] MPox

MPox, also known as monkey pox, is a viral disease that spreads the direct contact with bloody fluids. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently announced the end of the 10- month long global health emergency for this disease.

3. The SCO Startup Forum 2023 was organised in which city?

[A] Mumbai

[B] New Delhi

[C] Mysuru

[D] Hyderabad

Answer: [B] New Delhi

The third edition of the SCO startup forum was held recently. It was organized in New Delhi by the Department of Promotion for Industry and Internal Trade. It is aimed at expanding the startup interactions amongst the SCO Member States, nurturing innovation, generating employment and encouraging young talent to build innovative solutions.

4. As per a new report, which country’s e-waste generation per person tripled over the last two decades?

[A] USA

[B] Canada

[C] Australia

[D] Germany

Answer: [B] Canada

A new study revealed that Canada’s e-waste has tripled over the last two decades. The e-waste generation per person has surged from 8.3 kilograms in 2000 to 25.3 kilograms in 2020. Canadians produced nearly one million tonnes of e-waste in 2020. That is expected to reach 1.2 million tonnes annually by 2030.

5. Which country has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a state visit?

[A] USA

[B] Australia

[C] Ukraine

[D] China

Answer: [A] USA

State visit is a visit to foreign countries led by the head of the state or a government, acting in their sovereign capacity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to go to the US on a state visit on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

6. ‘Big Ben’ is the famous clock located in which country?

[A] USA

[B] UK

[C] Australia

[D] France

Answer: [B] UK

Big Ben is the nickname given to the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, United Kingdom. It had failed to bong on May 10, when the dials of the clock on top of the Elizabeth Tower briefly stopped. For hundreds of years, it was called the Clock Tower, and was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

7. Which institution successfully conducted the test of semi-cryogenic engine?

[A] DRDO

[B] BHEL

[C] ISRO

[D] HAL

Answer: [C] ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently concluded the first integrated test on an intermediate configuration of the 2000 kN (Kilonewton) semi-cryogenic engine. This test was conducted at the newly-commissioned Semi- cryogenic Integrated Engine & Stage Test facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC).

8. Which Union Ministry signed MoU with ICMR to collaborate on integrative health research?

[A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

[B] Ministry of Ayush

[C] Ministry of Science and Technology

[D] Ministry of MSME

Answer: [B] Ministry of Ayush

The Union Ayush Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have inked an MoU to promote and collaborate on integrative health research. As per the MoU, focus will be given to identified areas of national importance in healthcare.

9. What is the expansion of ICM, on which Indian Government organised a stake holder consultation?

[A] Indian Coal Market

[B] Indian Carbon Market

[C] Indian Crypto Market

[D] Indian Computer Market

Answer: [B] Indian Carbon Market

Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is planning to develop Carbon Credit Trading Scheme to decarbonize the Indian economy. Recently, the government organized the ‘Stakeholder Consultation on Accredited Carbon Verifiers under Indian Carbon Market (ICM)’ in New Delhi.

10. As per the ‘Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker’, what is the rank of India in the pipelines under construction category?

[A] Second

[B] Seventh

[C] Twelfth

[D] Fifteenth

Answer: [A] Second

The recently released Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker revealed that India is among the top five developers of oil pipelines that are under construction or proposed. Other top developers are the US, Iraq, Iran and Tanzania. The country is constructing 1,630 km long oil transmission pipelines, ranking second globally in the pipelines under construction category.

11. The invasion of a tiny insect named ‘Eretmoptera murphyi’ is changing the ecosystem of which continent?

[A] Australia

[B] Antarctica

[C] Asia

[D] Africa

Answer: [B] Antarctica

Eretmoptera murphyi is a flightless midge. It is currently changing Antarctica’s Signy Island soil and ecosystem by feasting on dead organic matter. It has led to faster plant decomposition, thus increasing the soil nitrate levels by three- five times compared to places on the island where the midge is absent.

12. Which institution released the ‘Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 (GRID-2023)’?

[A] IDMC

[B] UNICEF

[C] World Bank

[D] WEF

Answer: [A] IDMC

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) released the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 (GRID-2023). As per the report, disasters have increased the number of displaced people by 40 percent in 2022. As many as 32.6 million people were displaced because of disasters.

13. What is a ‘Comb Jelly’, which was seen in the news recently?

[A] Semi conductor Chip

[B] Malware

[C] Marine Organism

[D] Cryptocurrency

Answer: [C] Marine Organism

Comb jellies, also known as ctenophores, are marine organisms known for the groups of cilia they use for swimming. A new study revealed that the nerve-net neurons of the comb jellies are not connected by synapses but by a single plasma membrane.

14. Scientists have recently initiated a field trial to vaccinate which animals against ‘Chlamydia’ diseases?

[A] Panda

[B] Koala

[C] Wolf

[D] Lions

Answer: [B] Koala

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Australian scientists have initiated a field trial in New South Wales to vaccinate wild koalas against chlamydia. The strain of chlamydia belongs to a closely related species of the sexually-transmitted disease in humans.

15. Which institution is proposed to hold common counselling for all seats of all medical colleges?

[A] IMA

[B] AIIMS

[C] MCC

[D] ICMR

Answer: [C] MCC

Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is proposed to hold common counselling for all seats of government medical colleges, private medical colleges and deemed institutions. The Tamil Nadu government is planning to officially oppose the proposed move of the Medical Counselling Committee. The MCC carries out counselling for all seats in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate and Medical Research throughout the nation.

16. Which naval ship has recently completed 70 years of serve to the Indian Navy?

[A] INS Garuda

[B] INS Rajali

[C] INS Hamsa

[D] INS Drona

Answer: [A] INS Garuda

INS Garuda recently completed 70 years of serve to the Indian Navy. This premier naval station was commissioned on May 11, 1953. It is home to the first amphibious aircraft of Indian Navy, the Sealanders. INS Garuda has grown into a full- fledged air base operating some of the finest air assets of Indian Navy. It is also known as the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation’.

17. Which space agency launched the ‘Meteosat-12’ weather satellite?

[A] ISRO

[B] NASA

[C] ESA

[D] JAXA

Answer: [C] ESA

Meteosat-12, the newly launched European weather satellite. The first images captured by this satellite was released recently. The spacecraft, which is placed 36,000km above the equator, was launched in December. Meteosat-12 sits in a stationary position, keeping a permanent eye on Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

18. Which country has recently approved the ‘Isaac River coal mine project’?

[A] USA

[B] Australia

[C] Russia

[D] India

Answer: [B] Australia

The Australian government has recently approved the Queensland’s Isaac River coal mine project. The coal mine will be built near Moranbah. Bowen Coking Coal has been. authorised yextract metallurgical coal for making steel. This is the first new coal mine to be given the go-ahead by the government.

19. Which country is set to host the ‘Mining Startup Summit’?

[A] India

[B] Sri Lanka

[C] Afghanistan

[D] Nepal

Answer: [A] India

The first-ever mining startup summit will be organized by the Indian Government. It will be organized to encourage the participation of startups in mineral and mining sector. The summit will be held in collaboration with IIT Bombay to encourage entry of start-ups in the mining sector.

20. Sittwe Port, which was recently inaugurated, is in which country?

[A] Nepal

[B] Bangladesh

[C] Myanmar

[D] Sri Lanka

Answer: [C] Myanmar

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Myanmar and received the first Indian cargo ship. Sittwe Port has been developed as a part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant in aid assistance from Government of India. The port will provide an alternative connectivity between Mizoram and Haldia in West Bengal or any Indian port through the Kaladan river in Myanmar.