Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 2nd & 3rd April 2023
1. World Health Organisation (WHO) certified which countries as Malaria-free recently?
[A] India and Sri Lanka
[B] Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
[C] Pakistan and Afghanistan
[D] Nepal and Bangladesh
Answer: [B] Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
Recently, the World Health Organisation certified Azerbaijan and Tajistan as Malara-free Countries. They succeeded in eliminating the Anopheles mosquito-borne disease in their territories. In Tajikistan and Azerbaijan , the last cases of regional spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria were discovered in 2012 and 2014.
2. Which country is the host of ‘International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence’?
[A] India
[B] UK
[C] USA
[D] France
Answer: [B] UK
The International Conference of Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence is being held this year at Oxford, the United Kingdom. It is being organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the UN Development Programme and others.
3. IMF’s Extended Fund Facility has been recently approved for which country?
[A] Pakistan
[B] Afghanistan
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Ukraine
Answer: [D] Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility is intended for countries experiencing serious medium-term BoP issues due to structural weakness that require time to address. It was recently approved for Ukraine to meet the urgent funding requirements amid the war with Russia.
4. ‘Schengen area’ is associated with which association?
[A] ISA
[B] SAARC
[C] G -20
[D] European Union
Answer: [D] European Union
The EU members have recently decided to digitize the Schengem Visa to make Visa application process more efficient in Schengen area. The Schengen area is a region comprising of 27 EU countries that have officially abolished all passports and other types of border control at their mutual borders.
5. Which country recently held a referendum on a new constitution (April 2023)?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Uzbekistan
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Iran
Answer: [B] Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan held a referendum on a new constitution on April 30. The constitution seeks to declare Uzbekistan as a sovereign, democratic, legal and social state. The constitution also enshrines new rules from personal rights to expanding the powers of parliament.
6. ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ is an event associated with which religion?
[A] Islam
[B] Sikhism
[C] Buddhism
[D] Jainism
Answer: [B] Sikhism
Sarbat Khaisa is a deliberative assembly of all factions of Sikha that dates back to the 18th century of Baisakthi and Diwali. The last “Sarbat khalsa” was held on February 16, 1986. It was recently announced that the convening of a Sarbat khalsa congregation is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht chief.
7. ‘DAGGER computer model’ is an AI-based computer model, which is used in which field?
[A] Cryptocurrency
[B] Geo-magnetics
[C] Geo-politics
[D] Sports
Answer: [B] Geo- magnetics
DAGGER (Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation) computer model can forecast geomagnetic disturbances 30 minutes in advance at the global level. This AI model will help with the rapid and accurate prediction of the solar storm.
8. Which is the first American state to pass a resolution condemning Hinduphobia?
[A] Seattle
[B] Georgia
[C] New York
[D] California
Answer: [B] Georgia
The US state of Georgia became the first American state to pass a resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It seeks to build upon a 2022 report by Rutgers University that found there has been a noticeable surge in anti-Hindu disinformation.
9. Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, which was seen in the news, is associated with which country?
[A] Columbia
[B] Japan
[C] Indonesia
[D] Philippines
Answer: [A] Columbia
Nevado del Ruiz Valcano is a volcano in Colombia in the pacific Ring of Fire. It is current experiencing seismic activities, creating a possibility of eruption in the near future. It is the highest active volcano in the Andes mountain range.
10. Which country is associated with the ‘Anti-Spyware Declaration’?
[A] USA
[B] China
[C] India
[D] South Korea
Answer: [A] USA
The First-Ever Anti-Spyware Declaration was issued recently by the United States and 10 other countries. It includes Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This is an recognition of the misuse of the commercial spyware and the need for a stringent domestic and international controls on the proliferation and the use of spyware technology.
11. When is the ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ observed every year?
[A] April 1
[B] April 2
[C] April 5
[D] April 8
Answer: [B] April 2
World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2 every year. The theme for 2023 is “Transformation: Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All”. This year’s celebration focuses on the contribution of autistic people in the home, work, arts and policy-making.
12. ‘Utkala Dibasa’ is observed on April 1 to commemorate the formation of which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] West Bengal
[C] Karnataka
[D] Kerala
Answer: [A] Odisha
Utkala Dibasa (Odisha Day) is observed on April 1. It commemorates the formation of the Indian State of Odisha after its separation from Bihar and the Orissa Province. The addition of the Koraput District and Ganjam District from the Madras Presidency on 1 April 1936.
13. Which country recently described India as ‘Friendly Sovereign Global Centres of Power’?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] UK
Answer: [A] Russia
Russia recently announced unveiled a new concept of foreign policy by describing India and China as ‘friendly sovereign global centres of power’. These countries will be given particular focus by Moscow by comprehensively deepening ties and improving coordination with them.
14. Which payment bank launched ‘WhatsApp Banking Services’?
[A] India Post Payments Bank
[B] Airtel Payments Bank
[C] Jio Payments Bank
[D] NSDL Payments Bank
Answer: [A] India Post Payments Bank
WhatsApp Banking Services was launched recently by the India Post Payments Bank in collaboration with Airtel. It enables the IPPB customers to access banking service from their mobile phone. The Airtel-IPPB WhatsApp Banking solution aims to provide multi-language support.
15. At present, how many percentage of inhabited villages in India have declared themselves ODF plus?
[A] 20 per cent
[B] 25 per cent
[C] 40 Per cent
[D] 50 per cent
Answer: [C] 40 per cent
An ODF Plus Village is the one that sustains is ODF status and ensures management of solid and liquid wastes while remaining visually clean. Currently, more than 40 percent of inhabited villages in India have declared themselves ODF plus.
16. The ‘Foreign Trade Policy 2023’ aims to boost India’s merchandise and services exports by 2023 by?
[A] USD 1 trillion
[B] USD 2 trillion
[C] USD 5 trillion
[D] USD 10 trillion
Answer: [B] USD 2 trillion
The Indian government unveiled its Foreign Trade Policy 2023 which seeks to boost merchandise and services exports by USD 2 trillion by 2030 from the current level of USD 765 billion. The Policy also seeks to make the Indian Rupee the global currency in setting international trade payments.
17. Who is the first Ex-President of the United States to be changes with crime?
[A] Bill Clinton
[B] Donald Trump
[C] George Bush
[D] Joe Biden
Answer: [B] Donald Trump
Former US President Donald Trump becomes first ex-President to be charged with crime. He will be charged over hush money payments made to a porn star just before the 2016 presidential election. The former President is also being investigated in several other case. The include probes into his role in the US Capitol riot of January 2021, his efforts to overturn his loss in the state of Georgia in the 2020 election, and his handling of classified documents after leaving office.
18. ‘National Maritime Week’ is observed in India in which month?
[A] March
[B] April
[C] May
[D] June
Answer: [B] April
To mark the moment of the first Indian Steamship “S.S. LOYALTY”, Mumbai, venturing into international water on her maiden voyage from Mumbai to London (UK) in 1919, April 5 was marked as “National Maritime Day”. The government is celebrating National Maritime Week from March 30, 2023 to April 5, 2023, paying tribute to the services of seafarers.
19. ‘Sagar-Setu’ app is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry
[B] Jal Shakti Ministry
[C] Road Transport and Highways Ministry
[D] Commerce and Industry Ministry
Answer: [A] Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda SOnowal launched the App version of National Logistics Portal (Marine) ‘Sagar-Setu’. It will provide real-time information on activities that are generally not within reach of the importer, exporter, and customs broker.
20. After recent revision in March 2023, what is the rate of interest of Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme?
[A] 7.5%
[B] 7.75 %
[C] 8.0%
[D] 8.2%
Answer: [C] 8.0%
The government has raised the interest rates across all small savings schemes except the post office savings deposit and the Public Provident Fund (PPF) for the April-June 2023 quarter. The Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme too will enjoy a higher rate of interest-up from the existing 7.6 percent to 8 percent. The interest rate on the National Savings Certificate (NSC) has been hiked from 7 percent to 7.8 percent for the April-June 2023 quarter.