Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 5th January 2024

1. Who is the author of recently released the book titled “Why Bharat Matters”?

A. Amit Shah

B. Nirmala Sitharaman

C. S Jaishankar

D. Rajnath Singh

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar released his new book “Why Bharat Matters” at an event in New Delhi. The book examines India’s transformation in foreign policy over the past decade under PM Narendra Modi. It also juxtaposes India’s evolution with the Ramayana. S Jaishankar outlined how the year 2024 will be turbulent due to geopolitics but India can face challenges given its strength.

2. What is the name of female cheetah that recently gave birth to three cubs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh?

A. Aaradhya

B. Aadya

C. Veni

D. Aasha

• ‘Aasha’ the female cheetah named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave birth to a litter of three cubs inside Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This momentous event marks a major milestone for the cheetah restoration project in India. Authorities are closely monitoring Aasha and the cubs to ensure their healthy growth and development.

3. Which three items from Arunachal Pradesh recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag?

A. Adi kekir, Wancho crafts, Changlang textiles

B. Apatani rice, adi kekir, Tibetan carpets

C. Adi kekir, Tibetan carpets, Wancho wooden crafts

D. Khamti rice, adi kekir, Changlang textiles

• Three products of Arunachal Pradesh – adi kekir ginger, carpets handmade by Tibetan settlers and wooden items by the Wancho community – have received the prestigious GI tag recognizing their unique geographical roots. Adi kekir is a famed variety of ginger while Wancho artisans create sculpture figures on wooden items. The GI tag certifies specific products as originating from a particular region to boost their marketability.

4. Who is the author of “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology”?

A. Yuval Noah Harari

B. Malcolm Gladwell

C. Chris Miller

D. Walter Isaacson

• Chris Miller, author of “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology” which explains the US-China semiconductor rivalry, has been invited to address Tamil Nadu’s Global Investors Meet. His presence will energize youth and foster policy discussions in this sector which the state aims to grow.

5. In which year, Savitribai Phule established the country’s first school for women?

A. 1835

B. 1848

C. 1855

D. 1860

• Savitribai Phule, along with her husband Jyotiba Phule, is considered a pioneer of the women’s rights movement in India. In 1848, she established the country’s first school for women. She championed causes like women’s education and empowerment as well as emancipation of marginalized communities.

6. Which public sector space enterprise will launch India’s GSAT-20 satellite aboard a SpaceX rocket later in 2024?

A. Indian Space Research Organisation

B. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd

C. NewSpace India Limited

D. Antrix Corporation Ltd

• NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, plans to launch communications satellite GSAT-20 in Q2 of 2024 on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It is a demand-driven high throughput satellite ordered by NSIL to meet India’s growing broadband needs.

7. Which organization recently signed an MoU with National Remote Sensing Centre to develop a Green Cover Index for National Highways?

A. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

B. National Highways Authority of India

C. Bureau of Indian Standards

D. Defence Research and Development Organisation

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) entered an MoU with ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for 3 years to develop a “Green Cover Index” using satellite imagery to monitor plantation along vast network of national highways across India.

8. Which corporate group is setting up Asia’s first testing facility for Hyperloop transportation technology at IIT-Madras?

A. Adani Group

B. Vedanta Ltd

C. ArcelorMittal

D. Jindal Steel and Power Ltd

• ArcelorMittal has partnered with IIT-Madras to construct Asia’s first testing facility for Hyperloop pods and systems which enable magnetic levitation of pods through vacuum tubes for high-speed transportation of goods and people.

9. What is the name of the biosimilar antidiabetic drug recently launched by Glenmark in the Indian market?

A. Insugen

B. Lirafit

C. Glyciphage

D. Januglify

• Glenmark pharmaceuticals launched Lirafit, a biosimilar of popular antidiabetic medicine Liraglutide in India priced nearly 70% cheaper to make the therapy more affordable for diabetic patients in the country.

10. Which organization along with CCRAS launched the ‘SMART 2.0’ program to promote clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda?

A. AYUSH Ministry

B. NITI Aayog

C. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine

D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched ‘SMART 2.0’ to promote clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda through mutual collaboration with Ayurveda institutions across India. The objective is to generate evidence on efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions using interdisciplinary research methods.

11. Who is the current (2024) CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)?

A. Sanjay Kundu

B. Rajesh Kumar

C. Rakesh Asthana

D. Ajay Bhalla

• Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in a recent media interaction revealed statistics that over ₹10,300 crore were siphoned off from India by cyber criminals since April 2021. I4C is a body established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide a framework for law agencies to tackle cybercrime.

12. Which state government has prohibited government offices from purchasing petrol and diesel vehicles from January 1, 2024?

A. Himachal Pradesh

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Uttar Pradesh

D. Madhya Pradesh

• The Himachal Pradesh government made two major decisions on January 1st, 2024 – all government offices have been prohibited from purchasing petrol or diesel vehicles since January 1st. This decision has been taken to make Himachal Pradesh a clean and green energy state by March 31, 2026. The government will now only purchase electric vehicles.