Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 26th & 27th March 2023
1. Which Article of the Indian constitution deals with the disqualification of MPs from Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha?
[A] Article 10
[B] Article 20
[C] Article 32
[D] Article 102
Answer : [D] Article 102
Article 102 deals with the disqualification of MPs from Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. It provides the list reasons behind the MP’s disqualification. The notice issued by Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualifying Rahul Gandhi from M.P. position mentions Article 102(1)(e) of the Indian Constitution and the Representation of People Act, 1951.
2. Which country launched the ‘Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C)’ along with the US?
[A] India
[B] UAE
[C] Israel
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer : [B] UAE
Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate-AIM4C) was launched by the UAE and the US at Conference of Parties-26. India recently joined this grouping in 2023. AIM4C is a global partnership that aims to accelerate investment and support for climate-smart agriculture & food systems innovation.
3. ‘Sahakar Samridhi Soudha’ is to be constructed in which state/UT?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Karnataka
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Answer : [B] Karnataka
Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shad laid the foundation stone of ‘Sahakar Samridhi Soudha’ in Bengaluru. Sahakar Samridhi Soudha is a 67-acre market yard for agriculture marketing. He also inaugurated various development works of Karnataka Department of Cooperation to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore.
4. Defence Ministry recently signed a contract with which organization under Project Himshakti?
[A] ISRO
[B] DRDO
[C] BEL
[D] HAL
Answer : [C] BEL
Union Defence Ministry of India recently signed a contract with the BEL Hyderabad under ‘Project Himshakti’. ‘Project Himshakti’ will encourage participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs. Under this project, two integrated electronic warfare systems will be manufactured at an overall cost of around Rs 3,000 crore.
5. Which paramilitary force is responsible for guarding the Indo-Myanmar border?
[A] ITBP
[B] Assam Rifles
[C] CISF
[D] BSF
Answer : [B] Assam Rifles
Assam Rifles’ 188th raising day ceremony was held on March 24, 2023 in Shillong. This central paramilitary force responsible guarding the Indo-Myanmar border. In this year, the personnel of the Force were awarded one Shaurya Chakra, seven Sena Medals, and 411 Presidential and Governors Medals.
6. Which city is the host of the ‘Regional Conference on Drug Trafficking and National Security?
[A] Chennai
[B] Pune
[C] Bengaluru
[D] Amritsar
Answer : [C] Bengaluru
Regional Conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ was recently held in Bengaluru. It was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Rashtriya Raksha University and the Government of Karnataka to open a new campus of the University at Shivamogga.
7. ‘Haeil or Tsunami’ is the drone system developed by which country?
[A] North Korea
[B] USA
[C] Japan
[D] Israel
Answer : [A] North Korea
Haeil or Tsunami is the drone system developed by North Korea. It is capable of creating massive radioactive waves through submarine explosions. The drone system will make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports by making a super-scale radioactive wave through an underwater explosion.
8. ‘Safe Third Country Agreement’ is associated with which countries?
[A] Australia, New Zealand
[B] Russia, Ukraine
[C] US, Canada
[D] India, Sri Lanka
Answer : [C] US, Canada
Safe Third Country Agreement, which came into effect in 2004, aims to help the US and Canada governments effectively manage access to the refugee system in each country for people crossing the international border between the two countries. A new bilateral agreement was signed to extend this agreement.
9. ‘Gaj Utsav 2023’ will be organized by the Indian Government to mark 30-year celebration of which project?
[A] Project Tiger
[B] Project Elephant
[C] Project Lion
[D] Project Great Indian Bustard
Answer : [B] Project Elephant
Gaj Utsav 2023 will be organized by the Indian Government to mark 30-year celebration of Project Elephant. It will be inaugurated by President of India on April 7. Gaj Utsav 2023 will be held at Kaziranga National Park by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.
10. When was the ‘Project Tiger’ launched in India?
[A] 1953
[B] 1973
[C] 1993
[D] 2003
Answer : [B] 1973
Project Tiger will complete 50 years in 2023. It was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park to conserve tiger population in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate three-day mega event in Mysuru to mark 50 years of Project Tiger.
11. Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, is being constructed in which state/UT?
[A] Jammu and Kashmir
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Sikkim
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer : [A] Jammu and Kashmir
Chenab Bridge is expected to be completed by the end of March 2023. It is the world’s highest railway bridge. The bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359m (1,178 ft) above the river, which is 35 meters taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower.
12. Which city is the host of ‘G20 Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable?
[A] Mumbai
[B] New Delhi
[C] Gandhi Nagar
[D] Bengaluru
Answer : [B] New Delhi
G20 Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable (CSAR) is a government-to-government level initiative of the G20 Presidency that will be held in New Delhi in September this year. It will focus on the important topic of free and universal access to scientific journals.
13. ‘PM-PRANAM’ is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Culture
[B] Ministry of Defence
[C] Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
[D] Ministry of External Affairs
Answer : [C] Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers is set to seek the Cabinet not for the ‘PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)’. It is expected to save Rs 20,000 crore in fertilizer subsidy for the government over the next three years. This scheme aims to create a balance between chemical fertilizers and alternative solutions.
14. Which institution released the ‘The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022’ Report?
[A] World Food Programme
[B] World Bank
[C] UNICEF
[D] Asian Development Bank
Answer : [A] World Food Programme
The report titled “The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022” was released recently by the World Food Programme. According to this report, the reach of school meals in low-income countries remain 4 percent below the pre-pandemic levels.
15. Exostoma Dhritiae, a new species of catfish, has been discovered in which state/UT?
[A] Sikkim
[B] West Bengal
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer : [C] Arunachal Pradesh
Exostoma Dhritiae is a newly discovered species of catfish. It was found by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Arunachal Pradesh. The new species has been named after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman director of the ZSI, as a mark of honour for her contributions to research on the fauna of the country.
16. Which particle that was recently discovered using FASER particle detector at CERN, is also called as ‘Ghost Particle’?
[A] Collider Neutrinos
[B] Forward Neutrinos
[C] Fast Neutrinos
[D] Sub-atomic Neutrinos
Answer : [A] Collider Neutrinos
Recently, scientists have observes collider neutrinos for the first time. The observation was made using the ForwArd Search Experiment (FASER), a particle detector installed at CERN. Those abundant subatomic particles are so removed from the rest of matter that they slide through it like specters, earning them the nickname “ghost particles”.
17. Which state/UT released the ‘Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Plan, 2023’?
[A] Kerala
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Gujarat
[D] Tamil Nadu
Answer : [D] Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Plan, 2023. It lists out actions plans in case of various natural and human-made disasters – earthquake, cyclone, Tsunami, flood, urban flood, industrial and chemical disasters, biological and public health emergency, nuclear and radiological disasters and fire.
18. Which state passed a resolution to provide SC status for Dalit Christians?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Kerala
[D] Telangana
Answer : [B] Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh passes resolution to provide Scheduled Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians. Earlier, the Telangana Assembly passed a resolution on including the Boya or the Valmiki community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.
19. The government has scrapped the long-term capital gains treatment for income from which type of mutual fund?
[A] Equity Funds
[B] Debt Funds
[C] Index Funds
[D] ELSS Funds
Answer : [B] Debt Funds
The government has scrapped the long-term capital gains treatment (with indexation benefits) for income from dept mutual funds. The returns from such funds will be treated as short term capital gains. Currently, capital gains arising from transfer of mutual fund units, other than equity-oriented funds held for more than three years, are considered as long-term investments and taxed at 20% with indexation benefits.
20. What is the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options contracts in the stock market?
[A] 5%
[B] 10%
[C] 20%
[D] 25%
Answer : [D] 25%
The Government raised the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options contracts in the stock market by 25%. The tax is raised with effect from April 1, 2023. This move may push some traders to offshore markets and dent trading volumes on the stock markets.