Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 19th May 2023

1. Which is the first Indian city to adopt the localization of the UN-mandated SDGs?

[A] Chennai

[B] Pune

[C] Bhopal

[D] Kochi

Answer: [C] Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minster Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the ‘Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation’ in Bhopal. This makes Bhopal the first city in India to adopt the localization of the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. ‘E-retrofitment’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which field?

[A] Culture

[B] Electric Mobility

[C] Finance

[D] Sports

Answer: [B] Electric Mobility

E-retrofitment is the process of converting a conventional vehicle into an EV by replacing internal combustion engine with the electric powertrain. It is expected play a major role in India’s transition to electric mobility. The Indian government has set an ambitious target of 30 per cent sales penetration of electric passenger cars by 2030.

3. Which cyclone has hit Myanmar and is one of the strongest storms to hit the region this century?

[A] Cyclone Mocha

[B] Cyclone Myan

[C] Cyclone Mira

[D] Cyclone Moto

Answer: [A] Cyclone Mocha

Cyclone Mocha was formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal on May 11. It is expected to be the second strongest cyclone to hit Myanmar in a decade. Cyclone Mocha was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the region this century. The military have announced over 20 deaths nationwide.

4. Which institution launched the ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign?

[A] RBI

[B] NPCI

[C] SEBI

[D] SBI

Answer: [D] RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of the ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign by banks recently. It aims to trace and settle top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank in every district of the country within 100 days. An unclaimed deposit is one which does not see any activity like the infusion of funds, withdrawal from the depositor for 10 years or more.

5. Which city is the host of the 5th Edition of Global Ayurveda Festival?

[A] Chennai

[B] Thiruvananthapuram

[C] Pune

[D] Mysuru

Answer: [B] Thiruvananthapuram

The 5th Edition of Global Ayurveda Festival will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from District 1 to 5 this year. The event will focus on highlighting the huge potential provided by Ayurveda in solving the health challenges of the present world. It is aimed at setting a platform for global networking of Ayurveda practitioners and stakeholders.

6. ‘AT2021lwx’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which field?

[A] Computer Hardware

[B] Astronomy

[C] Finance

[D] Sports

Answer: [B] Astronomy

AT2021lwx is the largest cosmic explosion to be ever observed. It was observed by a group of astronomers led by the University of Southampton. The explosion is said to be ten times brighter than any known supernova, the explosions that occur as massive stars die.

7. Which country has been hit by a large outbreak of the Moroccan locust in wheat plants?

[A] India

[B] Pakistan

[C] Afghanistan

[D] Myanmar

Answer: [C] Afghanistan

The large outbreak of the Moroccan locus in the wheat basket of Afghanistan is estimated to

destroy a quarter of the annual harvest. This loss is valued at 280 million USD to 480 million USD. The Moroccan locust eats more than 150 species of plants, including tree crops, pastures and 50 food crops. The species is ranked among the most economically damaging plant pests anywhere in the world.

8. Which European country has recently legalised Euthanasia?

[A] Spain

[B] Morocco

[C] Portugal

[D] Latvia

Answer: [C] Portugal

Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa signed into law a bill decriminalising euthanasia adopted by parliament last week. The new law allows people who are aged 18 and above and suffering from intolerable pain and terminal illness to opt for euthanasia.

9. ‘White Knight Corps’ is headquartered in which state/UT?

[A] Punjab

[B] Sikkim

[C] Jammu and Kashmir

[D] Rajasthan

Answer: [C] Jammu and Kashmir

White Knight Corps, headquartered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagrota Cantonment, was raised on June 1, 1972. General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh recently reviewed the security situation and operational preparedness along the LOC in Poonch and Rajouri Sector.

10. Which country conducts the ‘Soaring Eagle exercise’?

[A] India

[B] USA

[C] South Korea

[D] Australia

Answer: [C] South Korea

‘Soaring Eagle’ exercise is a regular large-scale exercise conducted by the South Korea Air Force. It commenced recently at an air base in Cheongju, 112 kilometre south of Seoul. The exercise mobilises more than 160 personnel and nearly 60 warplanes, including F-35A stealth fighters, and other tanker transport aircraft.

11. The Reserve Bank has directed banks and other entities to transition from which rate?

[A] LIBOR

[B] MIBOR

[C] FIBOR

[D] SIBOR

Answer: [A] LIBOR

The RBI has directed banks and other regulated entities to transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) from 1st July. The LIBOR is a set of interest rates calculated from submissions by large global banks. The global transition from Libor was necessitated after British financial authorities decided to phase it out in 2017 after discovering that some banks manipulated the reference rate by providing false data.

12. Which country has set up the ‘Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)’?

[A] India

[B] Bangladesh

[C] Myanmar

[D] Nepal

Answer: [B] Bangladesh

Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) was set up by the Bangladesh government to provide debt assistance to the country’s not-for-profit micro lenders. India’s microfinance sector is looking to set up a dedicated funding institution in line with Bangladesh model.

13. Dr Jayant V. Narlikar, who was seen in the news recently, is associated with which profession?

[A] Historian

[B] Astronomer

[C] Scientist

[D] Virologist

Answer: [B] Astronomer

Dr Jayant V. Narlikar, an astronomer, recently became the first recipient of the ASI Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement award. The award was instituted in 2022 to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI).

14. ‘Rebuild Kerala Initiative’ is aimed at rebuilding which entity?

[A] Beaches

[B] Roads

[C] Urban Forests

[D] Ancient Building

Answer: [B] Roads

Rebuild Kerala Initiative is a state government initiative which is aimed at rebuilding roads better after floods. The World Bank team recently reviewed the activities under this initiative. It also has agreed to explore possibleareas of cooperation in six priority projects.

15. The world’s first integrated machine for manufacturing blood collection tubes- ‘Husky -Ichor’ has been set up in which state?

[A] Maharashtra

[B] Gujarat

[C] Kerala

[D] West Bengal

Answer: [C] Kerala

Husky -Ichor is the world’s first integrated machine for manufacturing blood collection tubes. It was set up recently by Angamaly-based CML Biotech Ltd. The machine is manufactured by Canada-based Husky Technologies, a global leader in injection moulds and moulding machines.

16. The World Bank has proposed a funding of 165 million USD for ‘KERA’ Program of which state?

[A] Karnataka

[B] Kerala

[C] Andhra Pradesh

[D] Rajasthan

Answer: [B] Kerala

Kerala Economic Revival Program (KERA) aims to ensure the revival of the Kerala’s agricultural sector through socio-economic interventions. The World Bank has proposed a funding of 165 million USD for this project.

17. India EXIM Finserv IFSC Private Ltd is to be set up in which place?

[A] Mumbai

[B] Ahmedabad

[C] New Delhi

[D] Chennai

Answer: [B] Ahmedabad

India EXIM Finserv IFSC Private Ltd will be set up in the GIFT city by the EXIM Bank of the third quarter of the current financial year. This proposed subsidiary of the EXIM bank will focus on the on international export factoring in the presence of an import factor to promote trade finance and factoring.

18. Rhythm Sangwan, who was seen in the news, plays which sports?

[A] Wrestling

[B] Cricket

[C] Shooting

[D] Hockey

Answer: [C] Shooting

India’s Rhythm Sangwan has won the bronze medal in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 for rifle and pistol shooters in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was Rhythm Sangwan’s first individual senior medal at the shooting World Cup. She has won medals in Shooting World Cups and Shooting Championship at junior as well as at senior level.

19. Which airport has been recognised as the world’s most punctual airport, as per the recent report released by Cirium?

[A] Chennai Airport

[B] Hyderabad Airport

[C] Mumbai

[D] New Delhi Airport

Answer: [B] Hyderabad Airport

Hyderabad airport recognised as world’s most punctual as per the recently released report by aviation analytical firm, Cirium. As per the report, the airport recorded 90.43 percent on-time performance. It is the only airport in the world to cross the 90 per cent On-Time Performance mark.

20. Who is the first Indian scientist to become the Fellow of the Royal Society this year?

[A] Rajeev Varshney

[B] Ranjith Kher

[C] Rajendra Singh

[D] Ratna Sagar

Answer: [A] Rajeev Varshney

Rajeev Varshney is an Indian agricultural scientist known for his contribution towards decoding legumes’ genomes and developing new varieties of chickpeas. He is the only new Indian scientist to become the Fellow of the Royal Society this year. Rajeev Varshney is fourth Indian agricultural scientist to become FRS.