Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 25th March 2023

1. When is the ‘World Tuberculosis Day’ observed every year?

[A] March 18

[B] March 20

[C] March 22

[D] March 24

Answer : [D] March 24

World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year, is designed to build awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. In 2018, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5 million died from the disease. On this occasion, ‘One World TB Summit’ will be organized in Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi.

2. Which country conducts the multi-domain air-land exercise named ‘Exercise Vayu Prahar’?

[A] India

[B] Sri Lanka

[C] Bangladesh

[D] Nepal

Answer : [A] India

Exercise Vayu Prahar is a multi-domain air-land exercise conducted by the Indian Army and the IAF close to the Line of Actual Control. This exercise is part of the efforts taken to institutionalize the tactical-level jointness between the Indian defence forces.

3. Which state/UT passed the ‘Media persons Protection Bill 2023’?

[A] Gujarat

[B] Chhattisgarh

[C] Uttar Pradesh

[D] West Bengal

Answer : [B] Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023 was passed by the state assembly. Its aim is to give protection for media persons and prevent violence against them. The opposition MLAs demanded that the Bill be sent to the Select Committee of the Assembly for examination, which was rejected by Speaker Charandas Mahant.

4. Which institution released the ‘Triple Threat Report’?

[A] World Economic Forum

[B] UNICEF

[C] IMF

[D] UNESCO

Answer : [B] UNICEF

The ‘Triple Threat Report’ was released recently by the UNICEF. According to this report, the absence of monitoring of the WASH-related programmes, projects and policies are the main drivers of the water insecurities in the world’s worst-impact countries.

5. Which institution released the ‘Technology and Innovation Report 2023’?

[A] UNICEF

[B] UNESCO

[C] UNCTAD

[D] World Economic Forum

Answer : [C] UNCTAD

The Technology and Innovation Report 2023 was recently released by the UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. According to this report, the global economic inequalities are widening as the developed countries benefit most from the green technologies.

6. Which procedure is used to fast-track financial business by grouping together undiscussed clauses of a bill for voting?

[A] Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure

[B] Georgian Parliamentary Procedure

[C] Whip Parliamentary Procedure

[D] Granted Parliamentary Procedure

Answer : [A] Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure

Guillotine is a parliamentary procedure used to fast-track financial business by grouping together undiscussed clauses of a bill or resolution for voting. Several MPs have raised concerns recently that the government may guillotine the demands for grants and pass the Finance Bill without any discussions in the Lok Sabha.

7. Which country recently introduced an anti-LGBTQ Act that makes it a crime to identify as LGBTQ?

[A] South Africa

[B] Egypt

[C] Chile

[D] Uganda

Answer : [D] Uganda

Uganda recently introduced an anti-LGBTQ Act that makes it a crime to identify as LGBTQ. It provides broad powers to authorities to target gay Ugandans. Uganda is one of 30 African countries which bans same-sex acts and the new legislation received sweeping support in Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ which includes having sex with someone who is HIV positive or repeat offenders.

8. Lake Natron, which was seen in the news, is in which country?

[A] USA

[B] Tanzania

[C] Nigeria

[D] China

Answer : [B] Tanzania

Lake Natron is an alkaline lake in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is hostile due to the presence of salt, soda and magnesite deposits. It has been reported that the lake turns animals that touch it into “stone”. Ol Doinyo Lengai, which contribute to the lake’s condition, is the only active volcano to emit natrocarbonatites – a rare carbonatite lava.

9. Claude Lorius, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?

[A] Economics

[B] Climate science

[C] Politics

[D] Art

Answer : [B] Climate science

Claude Lorius, the pioneer of the climate science, has recently passed away at the age of 91. His discoveries in Antarctica in the 1980s helped prove the role of anthropogenic activities in the global warming.

10. Marburg virus, which was seen in the news, has killed over five people in which country?

[A] China

[B] North Korea

[C] Tanzania

[D] Argentina

Answer : [C] Tanzania

Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. It has recently killed five people in Tanzania’s north-western Kagera region. The highly-infectious disease is like Ebola, with symptoms including fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, vomiting and, in some cases, death through extreme blood loss. Hundreds of people have died from the virus in recent years, with almost all cases in Africa.

11. Which country has launched ‘Love Better Campaign’ to help teenagers recover from breakups?

[A] USA

[B] New Zealand

[C] UK

[D] Singapore

Answer : [B] New Zealand

The New Zealand Government launched Love Better Campaign to help teenagers recover from breakups. It specifically targets Gen Z. the campaign will receive USD 4 million over three years from the Ministry of Social Development to help teens recover from breakups and minimize harm in their relationships.

12. ‘Power-of-Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline’ aims to connect Siberia to which country?

[A] China

[B] Japan

[C] India

[D] North Korea

Answer : [A] China

Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline aims to connect Siberia to northwest China. A bilateral agreement between Russia and China regarding this project was finalized recently. The proposed pipeline would bring gas from the Yamal peninsula reserves in west Siberia to China. China is the world’s top energy consumer and a growing gas consumer.

13. Which Union Ministry provides financial assistance for ‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’?

[A] Ministry of Culture

[B] Ministry of MSME

[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

[D] Ministry of Labour and Employment

Answer : [B] Ministry of MSME

The ‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’ provides a better working environment for Khadi artisans. It aims to provide storage space for raw material, implements, accessories, semi-finished, finished goods, etc.. Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), provides financial assistance to artisans to construct workshed under ‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’.

14. Union Ministry of Defence entered a contract with which institution for supply of this MPR ‘Arudhra’ Radar?

[A] ISRO

[B] DRDO

[C] HAL

[D] BEL

Answer : [D] BEL

Medium Power Radar ‘Arudhra’ is a 4D multi-function phased array radar developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited). The Union Ministry of Defence recently entered into a contract with the BEL for the supply of this radar to the IAF.

15. Exercise Konkan 2023 is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and which country?

[A] France

[B] UK

[C] Singapore

[D] Iran

Answer : [B] UK

Exercise Konkan 2023 is a bilateral maritime exercise between the UK’s Royal Navy and the Indian Navy. It is held in March this year off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate of the Royal Navy, participated in this edition of the exercise.

16. ‘Gooty-Pendekallu Line’ which was seen in the news, is a part of which railway link?

[A] Hyderabad-Bengaluru railway link

[B] Mumbai-Bengaluru railway link

[C] Mumbai-Chennai railway link

[D] Delhi-Jaipur railway link

Answer : [A] Hyderabad-Bengaluru railway link

The Indian government has sanctioned a project for doubling of Gooty-Pendekallu section of the Hyderabad-Bengaluru railway link. This section is a major link for trains operating between the northern and southern parts of India. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 352 crore. The Gooty-Pendekallu section is essential in the Guntakal Division, which has frequent train traffic from Bengaluru to Hyderabad.

17. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘DigiClaim’ digitized claim settlement module?

[A] Ministry of Personnel

[B] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

[C] Ministry of Home Affairs

[D] Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Answer : [B] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Union Ministry of Agriculture and Framers Welfare recently launched the DigiClaim, the National Crop Insurance Portal’s digitized claim settlement module, under the PMFBY. The newly launched module will benefit the farmers in 6 states by supporting the electronic disbursal of claims.

18. Which day is celebrated as ‘Shaheed Diwas’, to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru?

[A] March 1

[B] March 10

[C] March 23

[D] March 31

Answer : [C] March 23

Shaheed Diwas, also known as Martyrs’ Day, is observed on March 23 in India to pay homage to the martyrs who gave their lives for India’s freedom. The day commemorates the anniversary of the execution of Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931.

19. ‘Sagar Manthan’ is the Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of which Union Ministry?

[A] Ministry of Jal Shakti

[B] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

[C] Ministry of Home Affairs

[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Answer : [B] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

‘Sagar Manthan’, which was inaugurated recently, is the Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). The dashboard will help organizations monitor and track the progress of their projects and key performance indicators.

20. Russia unveiled a broad long-term blueprint for deepening relations with which country?

[A] India

[B] China

[C] USA

[D] Italy

Answer : [B] China

China and Russia unveiled a broad long-term blueprint for their deepening relations following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow and talks with President Vladimir Putin. In the joint statement both sides firmly condemn the politicization of multilateral platforms. Both the countries pledged to work together to push back against the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.