Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 6th April 2023
1. ‘Mahila Nidhi’ is the first ever women’s cooperative fund launched by which state/UT?
[A] Kerala
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Answer: [B] Rajasthan
Mahila Nidhi is the first-ever women’s cooperative fund launched by Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehloy approved a proposal for giving 8% interest subsidy on loans obtained by the members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) from Mahila Nidhi. Mahila Nidhi is operated entirely by women and acts as a complementary body with the formal banking system.
2. Which country has recently voted to ban rental e-scooters?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] France
[D] Finland
Answer: [C] France
In a non-binding referendum held in France, 89.03% of the votes cast were opposed to the freestanding scooters, which are booked on a short-term basis through apps. The rental e-scooters, which were introduced in 2018 to promote green alternative for cars. The city will completely ban these devices by September 1 this year.
3. Which state/UT repealed the ‘Loktantra Prahari Samman Act’?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Assam
[C] Gujarat
[D] Rajasthan
Answer: [A] Himachal Pradesh
The Himachal Pradesh recently repealed the Loktantra Prahari Samman Act. The Act provides a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 and Rs 12,000 to the people who lodged in jails during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977. The repeal of the Act shall not affect the previous operations of the said Act.
4. Which state is the host of the ‘Cope India Exercise’?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Maharashtra
[C] West Bengal
[D] Punjab
Answer: [C] West Bengal
The Air Forces of India and the U.S. are set to conduct the Cope India exercise from April 10 to 21 st the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal. The exercise will see intense air manoeuvres aimed at improving interoperability. Japan will be the observer of the exercise.
5. What is the name of the single shape that can be used to cover a surface completely without creating a repeated pattern?
[A] Einstein Tile
[B] Ramanujan Tile
[C] C V Raman Tile
[D] Newton Tile
Answer: [A] Einstein Tile
The Einstein Tile is a single shape that can be used to cover a surface completely without creating a repeated pattern. It was discovered recently by mathematicians. “Einstein” is a play on German ein stein or “one stone”. A set of tile-types is considered to be aperiodic if copies of these tiles can only from patterns without repetition.
6. Which country rejected the proposal to organize a second referendum for Scotland’s independence?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] Australia
[D] Russia
Answer: [B] UK
British Prime Minister rejected a call from the First Minister of Scotland to organize a second referendum for Scotland’s Independence. This proposed referendum will provide people in Scotland the right to decide the issue of Scottish independence was carried out in 2014.
7. Which country hosted the first ‘India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting?
[A] India
[B] Kyrgystan
[C] Kazakhstan
D] Tajikistan
Answer: [A] India
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G.Kishan Reddy hosted the first India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting virtually. The Culture Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting. The India-Central Asia Summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022.
8. Which country has launched a law that mandates firms to reveal their gender pay gaps by early 2024?
[A] India
[B] Australia
[C] USA
[D] Japan
Answer: [B] Australia
Australia, with gender pay gap of 13.3% as of 2023, has launched a new law that mandates firms with over 100 employees to reveal their gender pay gaps by early 2024. This is expected to make business more accountable and improve working conditions of women in the country.
9. ‘Squirrelpox virus’ disease is spreading in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] UK
[D] Australia
Answer: [C] UK
Squirrelpox virus is a deadly disease affecting the United Kingdom red squirrels. Invasive, non-native grey squirrels from North America are the main carriers of this pathogen. The pix killed up to 80% of red squirrels over winter at one of just three sites 11,00 people have signed a petition calling on the Welsh government to fund vaccine research.
10. Christina Koch, who was seen in the news is associated with which profession?
[A] Sports-person
[B] Business-person
[C] Astronaut
[D] Scientist
Answer: [C] Astronaut
NASA named the first woman and the first African-American ever assigned as astronauts to a lunar mission. Christina Koch, an engineer who already holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a women, was named as a mission specialist, along with Victor Glover, a U.S. Navy aviator, who was selected as the Artemis II pilot.
11. Which company unveiled the laser system to shoot down incoming unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] India
[D] USA
Answer: [A] Japan
In a first, two Japanese firms recently unveiled their respective laser systems which will be used to shoot down incoming unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ –kilowatt laser system is an anti-drone weapon. It is capable of neutralizing drones at a distance of 1.2 km within 2 to 3 seconds.
12. ‘Caltoris bromus sadasiva’, which was discovered recently, belongs to which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Butterfly
[C] Spider
[D] Turtle
Answer: [B] Butterfly
Caltoris bromus sadasiva is a newly discovered butterfly sub-species. It was discovered from thr fringes of AKkulam and Vembanad lakes in Kerala. Caltoris bromus sadasiva is the first Bromus swift butterfly to be documented in the Western Ghats.
13. ‘Basohli Painting’ is a famous painting based in which country?
[A] Jammu and Kashmir
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: [A] Jammu and Kashmir
Basohli Painting is a world famous painting from Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. It recently received GI tag. The Geographical Indications (GI) is a form of intellectual property right that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location and having distinct nature, quality and characteristics linked to that location.
14. Aroma Mission has been originally launched in which state/UT?
[A] Jammu and Kashmir
[B] Sikkim
[C] Karnataka
[D] Tamil Nadu
Answer: [A] Jammu and Kashmir
Aroma Mission, which was started off in Jammu and Kashmir, aims to promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for the manufacture of essential oils, which are in high demand in the aroma industry. Himachal Pradesh Government is set to collaborate with the Central Government on this initiative to replicate its success seen in the Jammu and Kashmir.
15. Which country has become the 31st member of the NATO security alliance?
[A] Norway
[B] Finland
[C] Denmark
[D] The Netherlands
Answer: [B] Finland
Finland has become the 31st member of the NATO security alliance, doubling the length of member states’ borders with Russia. Finland’s accession is seen as a setback for Russia’s Vladimir Putin. He has repeatedly complained of NATO’s expansion before his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
16. ‘National Buildings Construction Corporation’ functions under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[B] Ministry of Rural Development
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Finance
Answer: [A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
National Buildings Construction Corporation is a central public sector enterprise that comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It recently bagged an order worth 488.02 crore from the Department of Border Management for the construction of a border and road a length of 88.58 km.
17. Which country has banned English and other foreign languages in official communication?
[A] Italy
[B] Germany
[C] Australia
[D] Russia
Answer: [A] Italy
Italy has banned English and other foreign languages in official communication. Italians who use English and other foreign words in official communications could face fines of up to 100,000 Pounds of 108,705 Dollars. While the legislation encompasses all foreign languages, it is particularly geared at Anglomania or use of English words.
18. Which neighbouring country of India has posted highest-ever annual inflation at 35.37% in March?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Pakistan
[C] Myanmar
[D] Nepal
Answer: [B] Pakistan
Consumer price inflation in Pakistan jumped to a record 35.37% in March from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said. At least 16 people were killed in stampedes for food aid. The inflation number was 31.5% in February. The food, beverage and transport prices surged up to 50% year-on-year.
19. Which country has invited Prime Minister to visit as a guest at the annual Bastille Day Parade?
[A] France
[B] USA
[C] Ukraine
[D] Afghanistan
Answer: [A] France
France has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Paris as guest at the annual Bastille Day parade in July. The Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to discuss a number of major agreements including those on the Indo-Pacific region, nuclear power and defence, as the two countries mark the 25th year of their strategic partnership.
20. Petra Kvitova, who won the Miami Open crown, is from which country?
[A] Czech Republic
[B] Russia
[C] Ukraine
[D] Serbia
Answer: [A] Czech Republic
Czech player Petra Kvitova defeats Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina to win her first Miami Open crown. The 33-year-old Kvitova, has won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014. In the men’s game, Daniil Medvedev wins the Miami Open title and his 4th trophy of the season.