Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 21st September 2023

1. ‘National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)’ is associated with which country?

[A] India

[B] Sri Lanka

[C] USA

[D] UK

Answer: [A] India

The Supreme Court onboarded its case data on the National Judicial Data Grid. The NJDG portal is a national repository of data relating to cases instituted, pending and disposed of by the courts across the country. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, “Onboarding of Supreme Court data on NJDG portal under the open data policy is a step on our part to bring transparency and accountability in the judicial domain.” Currently, litigants can access case status information of 23.81 crore cases and more than 23.02 crore orders/judgments.

2. All reported births and deaths in the country will be digitally registered on the Centre’s portal from which date?

[A] October 1, 2023

[B] December 1, 2023

[C] January 1, 2024

[D] April 1, 2024

Answer: [A] October 1, 2023

All reported births and deaths in the country will be digitally registered on Centre’s portal from October 1, according a government notification. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 that paves way for digital birth certificates which will be a single document to be used for admission to educational institutions, applications for driving licence, government jobs, passports or Aadhaar, voter enrolment, and registration of marriage, among others, will come into effect from October 1.

3. Which state launched a subsidy scheme to attract investment and boost the state’s stainless-steel production?

[A] Karnataka

[B] Odisha

[C] Jharkhand

[D] Assam

Answer: [B] Odisha

Odisha Government has unveiled a subsidy scheme to attract investment and boost the state’s stainless-steel production. The scheme offers 20% capital investment subsidy and electricity duty exemption besides land allocation and Employee Provident Fund reimbursement.

4. Which space agency released its findings after a yearlong study into unidentified flying object (UFOs)?

[A] ISRO

[B] NASA

[C] JAXA

[D] ESA

Answer: [B] NASA

NASA released the findings after a yearlong study into unidentified flying object (UFOs). NASA said that the study of UFOs will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites as well as a shift in how unidentified flying objects are perceived.

5. Where is the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) racetrack located in India?

[A] Pune

[B] Bengaluru

[C] Greater Noida

[D] Hyderabad

Answer: [C] Greater Noida

Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida has been approved by the international motorsports body for two-wheelers, FIM, to host the country’s first MotoGP race, the Grand Prix of India, on 24 September. The 13th leg of the prestigious MotoGP event will be the next big motorsports event to be organised at BIC after the three Formula 1 races held at the venue between 2011 and 2013. The first batch ofequipment for the MotoGP Bharat arrived at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).

6. Which Union Ministry has developed the ‘UPAg’ Portal?

[A] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare

[B] Ministry of MSME

[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

[D] Ministry of Finance

Answer: [A] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare

The Indian government has introduced the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg), an online platform developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The Portal’s core function is to generate crop estimates and integrate with other agriculture-related statistical systems. It aims to combat challenges like non-standardized and unverified data, ultimately supporting data-driven decision- making in India’s agriculture sector.

7. Rahul Navin has been appointed as the Acting Director of which institution?

[A] Central Bureau of Investigation

[B] Enforcement Directorate

[C] Central Vigilance Commission

[D] Border Security Force

Answer: [B] Enforcement Directorate

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Rahul Navin, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the 1993 batch, as the Acting Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Rahul Navin currently serves as the Special Director-Chief Vigilance Officer at the ED headquarters. This appointment follows the cessation of tenure for Sanjay Kumar Mishra, IRS-84 batch, who had been serving as the Director of Enforcement in the ED.

8. Which institution manufactures the Su-30 MKI fighter jets, to be acquired by India?

[A] Boeing

[B] Airbus

[C] DRDO

[D] HAL

Answer: [D] HAL

The Defence Ministry cleared procurement of various weapons systems and platforms including Dhruvastra short range air-to-surface missile and 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 45,000 crore. The 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets will be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. These proposals were sanctioned under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated YashoBhoomi Convention center at which state/UT?

[A] Maharashtra

[B] New Delhi

[C] Uttar Pradesh

[D] Gujarat

Answer: [B] New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated YashoBhoomi convention center, marking the first phase of the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Delhi’s Dwarka. Covering over 73,000 sq m, YashoBhoomi boasts one of the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities and the country’s largest LED media facade. With a capacity for 11,000 delegates, YashoBhoomi has received Green Cities Platinum certification for its environmentally friendly design.

10. Ig Nobel Prize 2023 is provided for which category?

[A] Sports achievements

[B] Humorous scientific feats

[C] Literary feats

[D] Business achievements

Answer: [B] Humorous scientific feats

A team of scientists from India, China, Malaysia and the US has won this year’s Ig Nobels, the prize for humorous scientific feats, in the mechanical engineering category for its study of repurposing dead spiders to be used in gripping tools. Counting nose hairs in cadavers, repurposing dead spiders, smart toilets idea, and explaining why scientists lick rocks, were among the 10 winning achievements in the 33rd Ig Nobel Prize ceremony.

11. As per a recent discovery, Earth’s High- Energy Electrons may contribute to water formation in which body?

[A] Moon

[B] Mars

[C] Mercury

[D] Sun

Answer: [A] Moon

Scientists analyzing data from India’s Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission have made a discovery that high-energy electrons from Earth’s plasma sheet may play a role in forming water on the Moon’s surface. Researchers from the University of Hawai’i found that these electrons are contributing to weathering processes on the Moon, breaking down rocks and minerals. This discovery could shed light on the origin of lunar water.

12. ‘Kyiv and Lviv World Heritage Sites’ are in which country?

[A] Russia

[B] Ukraine

[C] Belarus

[D] Belgium

Answer: [B] Ukraine

UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, has designated the World Heritage Sites in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Lviv as “in danger” due to the ongoing conflict sparked by Russia’s invasion. This decision was made during UNESCO’s annual world heritage committee meeting in Riyadh. Kyiv’s Saint Sophia Cathedral, dating back to the 11th century, and Lviv’s historic center, near the Polish border, have faced constant danger since the invasion.

13. What is the revised prize amount for Nobel Prize Winners, as of 2023?

[A] 1 million Swedish crowns

[B] 11 million Swedish crowns

[C] 21 million Swedish crowns

[D] 31 million Swedish crowns

Answer: [B] 11 million Swedish crowns

The Nobel Foundation, responsible for administering the Nobel Prizes, has announced that this year’s Nobel Prize winners will receive an additional 1 million Swedish crowns, bringing the total financial reward to 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $986,000). In 2012, the prize money was reduced from 10 million crowns to 8 million due to financial considerations. Subsequently, the amount was raised to 9 million in 2017 and further increased to 10 million in 2020, restoring it to its pre-2012 level.

14. ‘National Hispanic Heritage Month’ is celebrated in which country?

[A] Australia

[B] USA

[C] France

[D] Germany

Answer: [B] USA

National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15 annually, honors the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States. This celebration began with Hispanic Heritage Week and was officially recognized as a month-long observance by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

15. Which institution released a report citing sluggish progress across the world towards SDG 8?

[A] International Labour Organization

[B] World Bank

[C] World Economic Forum

[D] International Monetary Fund

Answer: [A] International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has issued a policy brief stating that the world is falling significantly behind in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8), which seeks to promote sustainable economic growth, full employment, and decent work for all. According to the ILO’s analysis, nearly two-thirds of the SDG 8 indicators show insufficient progress, and the international community is as far from reaching the targets as it was in 2015.

16. Which institution releases the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) in India?

[A] NITI Aayog

[B] RBI

[C] NABARD

[D] NPCI

Answer: [B] RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported that the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index), which measures the extent of financial inclusion in the country, increased to 60.1 in March 2023, showing growth in all parameters. The FI-Index provides a single value ranging from 0 to 100, with 0 representing complete financial exclusion and 100 representing full financial inclusion. The main contributors to the FI-Index’s improvement were the Usage and Quality dimensions.

17. Which state is undertaking an initiative to construct a sprawling Olympic Park in India?

[A] Gujarat

[B] Uttar Pradesh

[C] Madhya Pradesh

[D] Maharashtra

Answer: [B] Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is undertaking an initiative to construct a sprawling Olympic Park near the upcoming Noida International Airport. This development aligns with the central government’s recent announcement expressing interest in bidding for the 2036 Olympics. The Olympic Park project covers approximately 1,100 acres in Sector 22 of the Yamuna Expressway, as per the 2041 Master Plan. The centerpiece of the project is the Olympic City, occupying 965 acres, featuring 29 arenas for various Olympic sports.

18. Which state government has launched ‘Taxi App’ allowing people to book cabs conveniently for travel?

[A] Kerala

[B] Goa

[C] Odisha

[D] West Bengal

Answer: [B] Goa

The Goa government has introduced the “Goa Taxi App,” allowing people to book cabs conveniently for travel within the coastal state. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the app and over 500 tourist taxi operators have already joined the platform. The “Goa Taxi App” has been operational at Manohar International Airport (MIA), Mopa, for the past six months.

19. Which state approved ‘Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI)’ scheme?

[A] Assam

[B] Odisha

[C] Bihar

[D] Uttarakhand

Answer: [B] Odisha

The Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has granted approval for the ‘Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI)’ scheme. It is aimed at establishing a sustainable, affordable, and safe transportation network for passengers and goods across the state. This initiative seeks to create a seamless public transport network from the Gram Panchayat (GP) level to the state capital.

20. Which institution funds the Veteran Skilling Program to empower Ladakh’s Ex-Army Personnel?

[A] Airbus

[B] Boeing

[C] SpaceX

[D] ISRO

Answer: [B] Boeing

Boeing India, in collaboration with the Learning Links Foundation (LLF), has announced the expansion of their Veteran Skilling Program to Ladakh, India. This initiative, funded by Boeing, is aimed at equipping former Indian Army veterans in Ladakh with the skills needed for employment, facilitating their integration into the local workforce. The program will provide technical and non-technical training, including soft skills, to prepare veterans for various industries. The first batch of the Veteran Skilling Program is set to commence in October 2023.