Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 4th & 5th April 2023
1. Which country is the host of the Bilateral Maritime exercise ‘SLINEX-2023’?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] France
[D] Singapore
Answer: [B] Sri Lanka
SLINEX -2023 is the 10th edition of the annual Indian-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise. It is scheduled to be held on Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kiltan, an indigenous Kamorta class ASW corvette and INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, while the Sri Lanka Navy is being represented by SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Sagara.
2. ‘Salar de Atacama’ is the largest salt flat found in which country?
[A] Argentina
[B] Chile
[C] South Africa
[D] Brazil
Answer: [B] Chile
Salar de Atacama is Chile’s largest salt flat. Much of the country’s lithium deposits are found in this region. Chile is planning to collaborate with India to tap into the lithium value chain. The copper-producing nation- Chile, holds the world’s largest known lithium reserves.
3. Sea Lamprey, which was seen in the news belongs to which species?
[A] Turtle
[B] Fish
[C] Snake
[D] Spider
Answer: [B] Fish
Sea Lamprey is a rare species of fish that is known to extract blood of its prey. It was recently spotted on the Dutch island of Texel. It was last sighted on the island on 2017. The sea lamprey is also known as ‘vampire fish’ due to its nature of sucking blood from its host like parasite.
4. ISRO conducted the ‘Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission’ along with which institutions?
[A] DRDO and IAF
[B] DRDO and BEL
[C] DRDO and HAL
[D] DRDO and BARC
Answer: [A] DRDO and IAF
Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) was conducted recently by ISRO in collaboration with the DRDO and IAF. It involved Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter lifting off a winged body to an altitude of 4.5 km and freeing it to execute an independent landing on a runway.
5. Salim Durani, who was seen in the news, was associated with which profession?
[A] Business-person
[B] Sports-person
[C] Politician
[D] Scientist
Answer: [B] Sports-person
Salim Aziz Durani was an Afghan-born Indian cricketer who took part in 29 Test matches from the years 1960 to 1973. He passes away recently at the age of 88. Durani was a part of India’s successful victory against England in 1961-62 where he picked up eight wickets against English team.
6. When is the ‘International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action’ observed?
[A] April 2
[B] April 4
[C] April 7
[D] April 8
Answer: [B] April 4
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed annually on April 4. It raises awareness about landmines and promote steps towards removing them. The theme for this year is ‘Mine Action Cannot Wait’. On this day, UN Departments, specialized agencies, funds and programs come together to play a significant role in to work on mine action program.
7. Central Burreau of Investigation is set up under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of External Affairs
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Answer: [B] Ministry of Home Affairs
Central Bureau of Investigation is a premier investigative agency set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 1, 1963. Its Diamond Jubilee Celebration was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on April 3 this year.
8. Which state/UT developed ‘Solar Rooftop Online Portal’?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Assam
[C] Goa
[D] Rajasthan
Answer: [C] Goa
Goa Solar Rooftop Online Portal was developed by Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) in collaboration with the Electricity Department and the Department of New & Renewable Energy. It was appreciated recently by Prime Minister Modi as a good step towards harnessing solar energy and furthering sustainable development.
9. What is the name of the mineral concentrations on the bottom of the sea, which is a source for cobalt, copper, nickel and manganese?
[A] Polymetallic Nodules
[B] Universal Concentrations
[C] Undersea Nodules
[D] Seabed Metals
Answer: [A] Polymetallic Nodules
International Seabed Authority has decided to start taking permit applications in July from companies that want to mine the ocean’s floor. The undersea mining will be conducted to extract key battery materials- cobalt, Copper, nickel, and manganese – from potato-sized rocks called ‘polymetallic nodules’ found at depths of 4 kilometers to 6 kilometers.
10. Which country has recently agreed to join the ‘Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership’?
[A] Israel
[B] United Kingdom
[C] UAE
[D] Brazil
Answer: [B] United Kingdom
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a Free Trade Agreement. It was agreed between 11 countries in Pacific Rim. United Kingdom has recently agreed to join this pact.
11. Hexacentrus ashoka, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Bush Cricket
[C] Turtle
[D] Snake
Answer: [B] Bush Cricket
Three new species of bush cricket was found recently. Two of these species (Hexacentrus tiddae and Hexacentrus ashoka) were found in Haryana. In the local dialect of Haryana, bush crickets are referred to as tiddaes. The third species found in Meghalaya was named Hexacentrus khasiensis- after the khasi hills where it was discovered.
12. Which country’s plant mycologist is the first person in the world to contract a plant fungal disease?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Japan
[D] USA
Answer: [A] India
‘Chondrostereum purpureum’ is a plant fungus that causes silver leaf disease in plants. A plant mycologist from India has become the first person in the world to contract a plant fungal disease. It attacks most species of the rose family Rosaceae, particularly the genus Prunus. Among the millions of fungi present, only a few hundreds of fungi infect humans and animals.
13. Ukraine recently placed an order to procure ‘Rosomak multi-purpose armoured vehicle’ from which country?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] Germany
[D] Poland
Answer: [D] Poland
Ukraine has recently placed an order to procure 100 Rosomak multi-purpose armoured vehicles from Poland. These multi-purpose armoured vehicle is the licensed variant of the Finnish Patria AMV. The order will be financed through funds that Poland has received from the European Union and US funds that Ukraine has received.
14. Palm Sunday is an event associated with which religion?
[A] Islam
[B] Sikhism
[C] Christianity
[D] Jainism
Answer: [C] Christianity
Palm Sunday is the Christian moveable feast that occurs on the Sunday before Easter. It was observed on April 2 this year. The feast commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Its name originates from the palm branches waved by the crowed to great and honour Jesus Christ as he entered the city.
15. ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto’ who passed away recently was associated with which field?
[A] Business
[B] Sports
[C] Politics
[D] Art
Answer: [D] Art
Ryuichi Sakamoto is a famous Japanese musician and actor. He passed away recently at the age of 71. He was a composer, record producer, and actor who pursued a diverse range of styles of art. He was the Japanese pop pioneer and Oscar-winning composer.
16. Izu-Ogasawara Trench is located in which ocean?
[A] Atlantic Ocean
[B] Pacific Ocean
[C] Arctic Ocean
[D] Antarctic Ocean
Answer: [B] Pacific Ocean
The Izu-Ogasawara Trench is an oceanic trench in the western Pacific Ocean. Recently, scientists have set a record for the deepest fish ever caught on camera and the deepest catch ever made. A juvenile snail fish was filmed recently swimming at 8,336 m in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench.
17. ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ was held in which Indian state in 1924?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Answer: [C] Kerala
The ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ began on March 30, 1924 in the temple town of Vaikom, Kerala in the princely state of Travancore, marking the beginning of “temple entry movements” across the country. Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers recently inaugurated the centenary celebrations of anti-caste struggle Vaikom Satyagraha.
18. ‘Capulopsyche Keralensis’, which was recently discovered in Kerala, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Moth
[C] Snake
[D] Bee
Answer: [B] Moth
A new genus and species of bagworm moth Capulopsyche keralensis has been discovered from the coffee plantations of Kerala. Reseratchers have discovered the new species of bagworm moth, from Idukki district and Palakkad district.
19. What is the total merchandise value of Government e Marketplace (GeM) as of 2022-23?
[A] Rs 1 lakh crore
[B] Rs 2 lakh crore
[C] Rs 5 lakh crore
[D] Rs 10 lakh crore
Answer: [B] Rs 2 lakh crore
In the financial year 2022-2023, procurement of goods and services from government portal Government e Marketplace (GeM) has crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark. After the GeM portal was launched in 2017, business worth about Rs 400 crore was done and the business tripled last year to Rs 1 lakh crores, while it reached the 2 lakh crore-mark in 5 years.
20. What is the GST collection recorded in the month of March?
[A] Rs 1.5 lakh crore
[B] Rs 1.6 lakh crore
[C] Rs 1.8 lakh crore
[D] Rs 2 lakh crore
Answer: [B] Rs 1.6 lakh crore
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection for the month of March 2023 is stood at 1.6 lakh crore rupees. This is 13 percent higher than the GST revenues in the same month of last year. It is the fourth time, in the current financial year that the gross GST collection has crossed 1.5 lakh crore rupees, since the implementation of GST.