Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 8th June 2023

1. What was the Goods & Services Tax (GST) revenue collected in the month of May 2023?

[A] Rs 1.17 lakh crore

[B] Rs. 1.27 lakh crore

[C] Rs 1.37 lakh crore

[D] Rs 1.57 lakh crore

Answer: [D] Rs 1.57 lakh crore

The Goods & Services Tax (GST) revenue collected in the month of May 2023 rose 12% on an annual basis to Rs 1.57 lakh crore. The Finance Ministry reported the GST collections for the month of April 2023 at Rs 1.87 lakh crore, the highest ever. Monthly GST revenues more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore for 14 months in a row, with Rs 1.5 lakh crore crossed for the 5th time since inception of GST

2. Which state launched a state-wide 15-day mega registration drive for MSMES?

[A] Bihar

[B] Uttar Pradesh

[C] Assam

[D] Gujarat

Answer: [B] Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government launched a 15- day reqistration campaign for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) in all 75 districts across the state. The campaign aims at covering around 14 lakh such MSMEs that are not yet registered with the MSME Udyam portal, and providing them all the benefits of the schemes of the state government. There are more than 90 lakh active MSMES in the state, but only 14 lakh are registered.

3. Which country signed a deal to export hydropower to Bangladesh through Indian Territory?

[A] Sri Lanka

[B] Afghanistan

[C] Nepal

[D] Laos

Answer: [C] Nepal 

India and Nepal signed a series of agreements on energy and transport including the export of Nepal’s hydropower to Bangladesh through Indian territory. Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda is on a four-day visit to India. The two leaders virtually inaugurated six connectivity projects, which include the development of integrated check posts, rail lines and power transmission projects.

4. The United States signed a trade deal with which country, and was warned by China?

[A] Taiwan

[B] Ukraine

[C] India

[D] Sri Lanka

Answer: [A] Taiwan

The United States and Taiwan have signed a trade deal aimed at deepening economic relations between both sides in a move that has sparked a warning from China. Washington and Taipei maintain a multibillion-dollar annual trade and unofficial ties through the de facto US embassy. The Chinese foreign ministry accused Washington of violating agreements on the status of Taiwan.

5. Which neighbouring country recorded an annual inflation rate of 37.97% in May 2023?

[A] Pakistan

[B] Afghanistan

[C] Nepal

[D] Myanmar

Answer: [A] Pakistan

Pakistan’s annual inflation rate rose to 37.97% in May, the statistics bureau said, adding to its problems of a balance of payment crisis and risk of a sovereign default. In April, the bureau said Pakistan’s CPI at 36.5% was the highest recorded, and this is the national record for the second month in a row.

6. Which country won the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 title?

[A] India

[B] Pakistan

[C] South Korea

[D] Malaysia

Answer: [A] India

The Indian hockey team recorded a 2-1 win over Pakistan in the final of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman to successfully defend its title. Araijeet Singh Hundal was India’s top-scorer at Men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey 2023 with eight goals. This was India’s fourth title at Men’s Junior Asia Cup, having won it previously in 2004, 2008 and 2015.

7. Which institution released a report titled ‘Derailment in Indian Railways’?

[A] NITI Aayog

[B] Railway Board

[C] Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)

[D] Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)

Answer: [C] Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)

A report titled ‘Derailment in Indian Railways’ was released in 2022 by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). This report flagged several shortcomings and provided multiple recommendations to improve the safety of the Indian Railways. It highlighted shortfalls in inspections and failures to use a dedicated railway fund on priority tasks.

8. Which country hosted the ‘Shangri-La Dialogue’ in 2023?

[A] Malaysia

[B] Singapore

[C] China

[D] South Korea

Answer: [B] Singapore

Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore recently. It is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and participated by 41 countries. During this conference, Germany’s Defence Minister recent announced that the country will be sending two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024.

9. What is the name of tariff levied on imported goods to offset subsidies given to producers of the goods in exporting country?

[A] Countervailing Duty

[B] Anti-Dumping Duty

[C] Safeguard Duty

[D] Protective Duty

Answer: [A] Countervailing Duty

The Countervailing Duty (CVD) is commonly imposed to safeguard domestic companies that are unable to compete with low-cost imports benefiting from subsidies provided by the exporting country. The Indian government is planning to impose this duty on stainless steel imports to prevent the flooding of cheap imports and protect the domestic manufacturers.

10. Which city is the headquarters of Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S)?

[A] New York

[B] Geneva

[C] Rome

[D] Paris

Answer: [B] Geneva

India is planning to join the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S). It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an global regime that promotes cooperation between countries and regulatory authorities in good manufacturing practices (GMP) in order to improve the quality of their medical products.

11. As of June 2023, Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act required which institutions to be registered under it?

[A] Hospitals

[B] AYUSH Wellness Centres

[C] Hair Transplant Centres

[D] Skin and Cosmetology Clinics

Answer: [A] Hospitals

The Indian government is planning to bring hair transplant centres, skin and cosmetology clinics, dental cosmetology clinics and therapy centres under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act. At present, this Act currently requires only hospitals to be registered under it.

12. What is the expansion of ‘ESM’ set up by Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE)?

[A] Enhanced Surveillance Measure

[B] Extreme Surveillance Measure

[C] Enhanced Safety Measure

[D] Enhanced Safety Measue

Answer: [C] Enhanced Surveillance Measure

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) have set up the Enhanced Surveillance Measure (ESM) to curb volatility in small-cap counters. It is applicable for companies that have a market cap of less than 500 crore and the mechanism will be effective from June 5.

13. Which state/UT hosted the ‘Lavender Festival’?

[A] Sikkim

[B] Mozoram

[C] Jammu and Kashmir

[D] Arunachal Pradesh

Answer: [C] Jammu and Kashmir

Lavender Festival was inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah Valley. It was organized by the CSIR-IIIM as part of its ‘One Week One Lab Campaign’. It showcases the remarkable progress made in lavender cultivation and its impact on the local community.

14. ‘Black-veined white butterfly’ was recently spotted in which city?

[A] New Delhi

[B] London

[C] New York

[D] Paris

Answer: [B] London

The Black-veined white butterfly (Aporia Crataegi), which became extinct in Britain a century ago, made a reappearance recently in London. They were first labelled as a British species back in 1667. The Butterflies look like the Garden cabbage whites that can be spotted flying in Britain each summer.

15. ‘Geshe Langri Thangpa’ is an important figure in which religion?

[A] Jainism

[B] Buddhism

[C] Hinduism

[D] Islam

Answer: [B] Buddhism

Buddha Shakyamuni’s Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana Day was observed on June 4, 2023. On this occasion, 14th Dalai Lama delivered a teaching on Geshe Langri Thangpa’s eight

Verses of Mind Training.Geshe Langri Thangpa is an important figure in the lineage of the Kadampa and Gelug schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

16. Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state/UT?

[A] Assam

[B] West Bengal

[C] Odisha

[D] Meghalaya

Answer: [A] Assam

The Indian Army has created a distinctive environment to foster harmonious coexistence with wild elephants, with the objective of reducing the conflict between humans and elephants in the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam. Within the vicinity of the military station, the Indian army has established multiple ponds and cultivated fruit trees and grasses to provide resources for wild elephants.

17. Osimertinib is a new drug capable of cutting the risk of death from which disease?

[A] COVID 19

[B] Lung Cancer

[C] Brain Diseases

[D] Liver Diseases

Answer: [B] Lung Cancer

The Osimertinib is a new drug capable of cutting the risk of death from lung cancer by half. Lung cancer accounts for around 1.8 million deaths each year. Taking the drug daily after surgery reduced non-small cell lung cancer patients’ death risk by more than 50%.

18. Strawberry Moon is the full moon of which month?

[A] June

[B] July

[C] August

[D] September

Answer: [A] June

June’s full moon, also known as the Strawberry Moon, rose on June 3. The moon will then reach new moon on June 18, at which point it will be totally lost in the sun’s glare. The next full moon, July’s Buck Moon, will rise on Monday. July 3.

19. ‘Avutometinib and Defactinib Combination’, which was seen in the news, is proved effective in blocking which disease?

[A] COVID 19

[B] Tumor

[C] Tuberculosis

[D] HIV

Answer: [B] Tumor

According to a recent study involving 29 patients, a novel treatment utilizing the drug avutometinib, both individually and in conjunction with defactinib, demonstrated promising results. The combination therapy proved effective in blocking tumor growth and maintaining disease remission for extended periods. Notably, 45 percent of the patients experienced substantial tumor reduction when treated with the combined drugs.

20. Which is identified to be the main cause for the tragic train accident in Odisha’s Balasore?

[A] Electronic interlocking

[B] Bridge Collapse

[C] Poor Track Layout

[D] Overloading

Answer: [A] Electronic interlocking

Electronic interlocking is a system of signalling devices designed to prevent conflicting movements between trains by coordinating the arrangement of tracks. The change in electronic interlocking is the main cause for the tragic train accident in Odisha’s Balasore.