Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 28th June 2023

1. ‘Victor 6000’, which was involved in rescue operation of the Titan submersible, was developed in which country?

[A] USA

[B] France

[C] Israel

[D] UAE

Answer: [B] France

Victor 6000 is a French robot that was involved in rescue operation of the Titan submersible. It is capable of diving up to 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) underwater. The crew of the Titan submersible lost contact with its surface vessel – the Polar Prince – an hour and 45 minutes after it began a dive to see the wreck. French research vessel L’Atalante, was carrying the Victor 6000 remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

2. The Green Diamond, which was presented by Prime Minister Modi to the US President Joe Biden and First Lady, was developed in which state?

[A] Gujarat

[B] Andhra Pradesh

[C] Goa

[D] Telangana

Answer: [A] Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a unique gift upon US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. It was produced by a lab based in Surat, Gujarat. The lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond possesses similar chemical and optical characteristics as naturally mined diamonds from the Earth. The diamond is eco-friendly as resources like solar and wind power were used in its making. It has emitted only 0.028 grams of carbon per carat, and is certified by the Gemological Lab, International Gemological Institute.

3. Which institution released the ‘Standard IS 18267: 2023’ to address plastic pollution?

[A] FCI

[B] FSSAI

[C] BIS

[D] ISO

Answer: [C] BIS

The IS 18267: 2023 “Food Serving Utensils Made from Agri By-Products – Specification” has been released by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to address plastic pollution and encourage sustainable practices. This standard offers detailed instructions to manufacturers and consumers, promoting consistent quality standards throughout the nation.

4. Which Union Ministry launched ‘PM-Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication Feature’?

[A] Ministry of Electronics and IT

[B] Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare

[C] Ministry of MSME

[D] Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer: [B] Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare

The PM-Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication Feature was launched by the Union Agriculture Minister to facilitate e-KYC for farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The app allows farmers to complete the process remotely by scanning their face, without the need for OTP or fingerprint, and has now been extended to state government officers to help 500 farmers with e- KYC.

5. Which institution released a consultation paper to implement a regulatory sandbox within the realm of digital communications?

[A] NASSCOM

[B] CDAC

[C] TRAI

[D] RBI

Answer: [C] TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently released a consultation paper on “Encouraging Innovative Technologies, Services, Use Cases, and Business Models through Regulatory Sandbox in Digital Communication Sector”. TRAI’s consultation paper explores the potential implementation of a regulatory sandbox within the realm of digital communications.

6. Which state commenced the construction of the World’s Largest Ramayan Temple?

[A] Uttar Pradesh

[B] Bihar

[C] Uttarakhand

[D] West Bengal

Answer: [B] Bihar

The construction of the world’s largest Ramayan temple began in Bihar’s East Champaran district following rituals at the site. The temple, which is expected to exceed the height of Cambodia’s 12th-century Angkor Wat temple complex, is estimated to cost 500 crore.

7. ‘Western Disturbance’ which was seen in the news, is associated with which field?

[A] Culture

[B] Weather

[C] Finance

[D] Sports

Answer: [B] Weather

Western Disturbance refers to an extratropical weather phenomenon that affects the weather patterns in the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the winter months. In India, there has been a notable alteration in the behavior of western disturbances for a minimum of three years.

8. Which institution released the ‘State of the Climate in Europe 2022’ Report?

[A] FAO

[B] WMO

[C] UNEP

[D] UNDP

Answer: [B] WMO

The report titled ‘State of the Climate in Europe 2022’ was released recently by the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. According to this report, the proportion of weather-induced production losses in global nuclear energy generation rose from 0.29 percent five years ago to around 0.35 percent in 2022.

9. Researchers from GERMI have successfully created a supercapacitor from which element?

[A] Cotton

[B] Jute

[C] Paper

[D] Rayon

Answer: [C] Paper

A supercapacitor is an electrochemical device designed for storing charges, known for its ability to rapidly charge and discharge, high power density, and extended lifespan. Researchers from the Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) have successfully created a paper-based supercapacitor that is incredibly thin, lightweight, and capable of biodegrading.

10. ‘Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes’ doubled in 40 years in which mountain region?

[A] The Himalayas

[B] The Alps

[C] The Andes

[D] The K2

Answer: [B] The Alps

Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes refer to electrical discharges that occur between a thundercloud and the Earth’s surface. Their occurrences have increased in the European Eastern Alps due to climate change. Lightning activity in the higher European Eastern Alps doubled in the 2010s compared to the 1980s, according to a new study.

11. ‘Lake Victoria Basin’ is located in which continent?

[A] Asia

[B] North America

[C] Africa

[D] Europe

Answer: [C] Africa

The Lake Victoria Basin is a large geographical region in East Africa that encompasses the drainage basin of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by surface area. Lake Victoria spans the borders of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. A new study revealed that this region faces risks of heavy rains, wind storms, and floods that jeopardize communities’ survival, water access, and impact the region’s human populations and biodiversity.

12. The ‘National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’ is associated with which country?

[A] India

[B] Russia

[C] USA

[D] Australia

Answer: [C] USA

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a nonregulatory United States agency that is part of the Commerce Department. It is planning to launch a public group on generative AI to address the new technology’s, opportunities and develop guidance to address associated risks.

13. Which institution/s released the ‘Principles on Financial Market Infrastructures’?

[A] RBI

[B] BIS

[C] CPMI-IOSCO

[D] World Bank

Answer: [C] CPMI-IOSCO

The United Kingdom Treasury has granted equivalence to central counterparties authorized by the Reserve Bank of India, resolving a regulatory dispute and marking the first such decision post-Brexit. The decision was made based on the assessment that the RBI’s regulatory framework for designated CCPS aligns with the Principles on Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMIS), satisfying the outcomes required by the UK. PFMIS are issued by the CPMI and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

14. Which institution has successfully carried out a test flight for cloud seeding?

[A] IIT Madras

[B] IISc Bengaluru

[C] IIT Kanpur

[D] IIT Varanasi

Answer: [C] IIT Kanpur

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at enhancing precipitation in clouds to increase rainfall or suppress hail. IIT Kanpur has successfully carried out a test flight for cloud seeding. The purpose of this experiment is to induce rainfall and address both dry conditions and air pollution concerns.

15. ‘Roche-Cotard cave’, where the Oldest Known Neanderthal Engravings are discovered, is in which country?

[A] France

[B] USA

[C] Italy

[D] Greece

Answer: [A] France

The oldest cave engravings in Europe, dating back around 57,000 years, have been found in the Loire Valley in Roche-Cotard cave. The designs, believed to be made by Neanderthals, are abstract yet intentional, providing valuable insights into Neanderthal behavior and showcasing deliberate artistic expression predating the arrival of Homo sapiens in Western Europe.

16. DRDO signed contract with which company to develop ‘Air Independent Propulsion’?

[A] HAL

[B] L&T

[C] Tata Power

[D] Tesla

Answer: [B] L&T

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have signed a contract to develop two Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System Modules for the Indian Navy’s Kalvari Class submarines. The AIP Modules have been developed by DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) in collaboration with L&T, which has received the Transfer of Technology (ToT) for this indigenous AIP System.

17. What is the name of the new state of matter, recently discovered by physicists?

[A] Raman Ice state

[B] Chiral bose-liquid state

[C] Newton solid state

[D] Thomson gas state

Answer: [B] Chiral bose-liquid state

Physicists from the US and China have claimed that they have found an entirely new state of matter. The chiral bose-liquid state. At extremely low temperatures or within the atomic realm, known as quantum states of matter, substances exhibit behavior distinct from the familiar solid, liquid, and gaseous states typically encountered.

18. ‘BBMP Restructuring Committee’ is associated with which state/UT?

[A] Karnataka

[B] Odisha

[C] West Bengal

[D] Assam

Answer: [A] Karnataka

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Restructuring Committee had convened recently. Its goal is to split the BBMP into multiple corporations for ease of administration. The committee has been given a larger mandate to reimagine Bengaluru’s governance and the administration.

19. Which country is the host of ‘Summit on New Global Financial Pact’?

[A] India

[B] Russia

[C] France

[D] UAE

Answer: [C] France

The Summit on New Global Financial Pact commenced in Paris. It focused on discussions about reforms in the global financial system that can expedite the much-needed green transformation in the Global South. The Summit convened by French President Emmanuel Macron started a conversation on increasing support by rich countries for poor developing countries to tackle climate change.

20. ‘Dragon Boat Festival’ is a traditional festival celebrated in which country?

[A] Japan

[B] China

[C] South Korea

[D] North Korea

Answer: [B] China

Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is also known as Double Fifth Festival. People take part in various leisure activities to spend the Dragon Boat Festival. The Chinese community in Kolkata also observes the traditional Chinese holiday, commemorating the ancient poet Qu Yuan.