Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 23rd June 2023

1. Which country is the host of the ‘Ex Khaan Quest 2023’ multilateral peacekeeping joint exercise?

[A] India

[B] Sri Lanka

[C] Mongolia

[D] Israel

Answer: [C] Mongolia

Ex Khaan Quest 2023 is a multilateral peacekeeping joint exercise that is currently being held in Mongolia. It involved the participation of military contingents and observers from around 20 countries. President of Mongolia inaugurated the Exercise, which is co- sponsored by Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) and United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).

2. What is the expansion of ‘NIXI’, which celebrated its 20th foundation day recently?

[A] National Internet Exchange of India

[B] National Information Exchange of India

[C] National iOS Exchange of India

[D] National Interactive Exchange of India

Answer: [A] National Internet Exchange of India

National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) celebrated its 20th foundation day on 19th June this year. NIXI has made remarkable efforts to establish a strong and all-encompassing digital environment in the nation through its various business divisions, which include Internet Exchange, .IN Registry, IRINN, and NIXI-CSC Data Services Ltd,

3. Which Union Ministry launched ‘DAKSHTA For Young Professionals’?

[A] Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

[B] Ministry of MSME

[C] Ministry of Education

[D] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Answer: [A] Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

The IGOT Karmayogi Platform has recently launched a compilation called DAKSHTA (Development of Attitude, Knowledge, Skill for Holistic Transformation in Administration) for Young Professionals. Its primary goal is to enhance the learners’ functional, domain- specific, and behavioral abilities by providing essential knowledge on subjects that are vital for effectively fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.

4. Which institution adopted the ‘International Treaty to Protect the High Seas’?

[A] WEF

[B] UN

[C] NITI Aayog

[D] World Bank

Answer: [B] UN

The world’s first international treaty to protect the high seas was adopted by the UN on June 19. It will help protect remote ecosystems that are critical for the survival of humanity. The treaty, known as the treaty on “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBNJ), also introduces requirements to carry out environmental impact studies for proposed activities to be carried out in international waters.

5. What is the name of the plant which grows on another plant/tree drawing moisture and nutrients not from host?

[A] Parasite

[B] Epiphyte

[C] Phorophyte

[D] Photophyte

Answer: [B] Epiphyte

Epiphytes grow on another plant/tree merely for physical support, drawing moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it, and not from the host. The survival of epiphytic orchids in the Dooars and Darjeeling hills are threatened due to deforestation. They are known for their medicinal properties.

6. Which bloc recently adopted recommendations to strengthen action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

[A] G-20

[B] ASEAN

[C] BIMSTEC

[D] EU

Answer: [D] EU

The Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a set of recommendations to strengthen action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It recommended prudent use of antimicrobials such as antibiotics in human and animal health. Antimicrobial resistance refers to the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, to adapt and withstand the effects of antimicrobial drugs, rendering them less effective or completely ineffective in treating infections.

7. As per a recent research, the Earth has tilted as much as 80 centimetres due to which activity?

[A] Deforestation

[B] Groundwater Extraction

[C] Automobile Pollution

[D] Earthquakes

Answer: [B] Groundwater Extraction

By extracting and redistributing groundwater, humans have induced shifts in the Earth’s axis. In a span of 17 years, from 1993 to 2010, the act of pumping groundwater has caused the Earth to shift eastward by approximately 80 centimeters. The study, based on climate models, has said that around 2,150 giga-tonnes of water have been pumped out between 1993 and 2010.

8. Which institution released the ‘Food Outlook Report’?

[A] WEF

[B] FAO

[C] NABARD

[D] NITI Aayog

Answer: [B] FAO

The latest edition of the Food Outlook Report was released recently by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The report revealed that there is a significant decline in food imports by most vulnerable countries. It also estimates that the global food bill will rise to USD 1.98 trillion in 2023, up 1.5 percent from 2022.

9. Which institution conducts the ‘India’s Household Consumption Expenditure Survey’?

[A] Reserve Bank of India

[B] National Statistical Office

[C] Ministry of Finance

[D] NITI Aayog

Answer: [B] National Statistical Office

India’s Household Consumption Expenditure Survey is a new consumption survey that will track online expenses. Its aim is to capture real economic picture. The National Statistical Office (NSO) conducts the household consumer expenditure survey (HCES) every five years. It includes question on OTT subscription spend, the time spent online, how often we shop online, whether we order meals from Zomato or Swiggy and if we own an electric vehicle.

10. ISRO has agreed to undertake a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024, along with which country?

[A] UAE

[B] Israel

[C] USA

[D] France

Answer: [D] France

The Artemis Accords represent a set of principles aimed at providing guidance for 21st-century civil space exploration and utilization. It is a US led effort aimed at bringing the country back to the Moon by 2025. India has decided to join the Artemis Accords, which brings like-minded countries together on civil space exploration, and NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

11. The ‘Science and Technology Agreement (STA)- 1979’, which was seen in the news, was signed between which countries?

[A] India-USA

[B] USA – China

[C] China – Russia

[D] India – Russia

Answer: [B] USA- China

The China-US Science and Technology Agreement (STA), which was signed in 1979 and has underpinned bilateral cooperation in science, technology and other areas for decades. The deal has been renewed every five years or so and is set to expire on August 27, 2023. In Beijing, Chinese officials held multiple rounds of talks with the US secretary of state Antony Blinken.

12. ‘Vitiligo’ is a rare condition affecting which part of the body?

[A] Skin

[B] Brain

[C] Lungs

[D] Blood

Answer: [A] Skin

Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that affects over 70 million individuals worldwide. World Vitiligo Day is observed every year to raise awareness about this condition. This special day celebrates the lives and community of individuals living with vitiligo while highlighting the challenges they face.

13. River Rhine is located in which region?

[A] East Asia

[B] North America

[C] Europe

[D] Oceania

Answer: [C] Europe

River Rhine is one of the major European rivers. It originates in the Swiss Alps, forms the France- Germany border and flows into the Netherlands where it eventually empties into the North Sea. It has started to dry up two weeks into the Summer and Low water levels are preventing cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded.

14. ‘Euclid mission’ which was seen in the news, was launched by which space agency?

[A] NASA

[B] ISRO

[C] ESA

[D] JAXA

Answer: [C] ESA

Euclid mission, a European probe, will be launched into space to increase the understanding of the dark matter and dark energy. The Euclid mission is valued at USD 1.10 billion. The probe will join fellow space telescope James Webb at a stable hovering spot 1.5 million kilometres from Earth called the second Lagrangian Point.

15. ‘Vectipelta barrette’, which was discovered recently, belongs to which species?

[A] Turtle

[B] Dinosaur

[C] Snake

[D] Spider

Answer: [B] Dinosaur

Vectipelta barrette is a newly discovered species of dinosaur. Its fossil remains were found on the Isle of Wight in England. Belonging to the family of ankylosaurs, the newly found dinosaur possesses a formidable appearance due to its blade-like armour.

16. What is the name given to tiny particles of plastic debris that are smaller than 5 millimeters in size?

[A] Mini plastics

[B] Micro plastics

[C] Milli plastics

[D] Tiny plastics

Answer: [B] Micro plastics

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic debris that are smaller than 5 millimeters in size. Researchers have estimated that humans inhale close to 16.2 bits of microplastic every hour, which is enough to make a credit card over the week. This accumulation of microplastics over the span of a week is equivalent to the size of a credit card.

17. As per a recent report, which is the fastest warming Continent in the World?

[A] North America

[B] Europe

[C] Australia

[D] Asia

Answer: [B] Europe

A new study revealed that Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world. The continent’s temperature has risen by 2.3 degree Celsius last year compared to the pre-industrial times. The World Meteorological Organization has released a report on the status of the undesired impact of climate change.

18. Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community with how many member countries?

[A] Six

[B] Eight

[C] Ten

[D] Twenty

Answer: [B] Eight

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community and comprises eight member states: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. The IGAD Regional Focus of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2023 was released recently by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre. It revealed that an estimated 30 million individuals across five countries on the continent are expected to need humanitarian aid in the form of food assistance.

19. Where is the ‘Largo di Torre Argentina’ square located?

[A] USA

[B] Argentina

[C] Italy

[D] Ukraine

Answer: [C] Italy

The Largo Argentina square, situated in Rome, Italy, comprises four temples from the Roman Republican era and the remnants of Pompey’s Theatre. This is the place where Caesar was believed to have lost his life. Recently, the city authorities opened the ancient site which date back as far as the 3rd century B.C.

20. ISRO has agreed to undertake a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024, along with which country?

[A] UAE

[B] Israel

[C] USA

[D] France

Answer: [C] USA

The Artemis Accords represent a set of principles aimed at providing guidance for 21st-century civil space exploration and utilization. It is a US led effort aimed at bringing the country back to the Moon by 2025. India has decided to join the Artemis Accords, which brings like-minded countries together on civil space exploration, and NASA and ISRO have agreed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.