Daily Current Affairs Quiz: June 27, 2023

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: A

ANSWER: B

• PM Modi was conferred with ‘Order of the Nile’ award, Egypt’s highest state honour.
• This is the 13^th such highest state honour that various countries across the world have conferred upon PM Modi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the Order of the Nile by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his visit.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• The Order of the Nile was established in the year 1915 by Sultan Hussein Kamel of Egypt.
• Originally intended to recognize individuals who had rendered valuable service to the country, the Order of the Nile became Egypt’s highest state honor after the monarchy was abolished in 1953.
• The ‘Order of the Nile’ is now conferred upon Heads of state, Crown Princes, and Vice-Presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services.
• The ‘Order of the Nile’ is a pure gold collar consisting of three-square gold units comprising Pharaonic symbols.
• The first unit resembles the idea of protecting the state against evils, the second one resembles prosperity and happiness brought by the Nile, and the third one refers to wealth and endurance.
• Its rich history and symbolism make it a coveted accolade.

ANSWER: D

• NCGG has successfully trained the 24^th batch of civil servants from Maldives.
• So far, 685 officers from Maldives have been imparted training.

ABOUT NATIONAL CENTRE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

• It is an autonomous institute set up in 2014, under the aegis of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
• It was previously known as the National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR).
• It seeks to carry out policy-relevant research and prepare case studies.

• It curates training courses for civil servants from India and other developing countries;
• It provides a platform for sharing existing knowledge and proactively seeking out and developing ideas for their implementation in the government, both at the National & International levels.
• It is governed by a Governing Body, under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary.

ANSWER: B

• Amid declining merchandise exports due to demand slowdown in the west, India is placing renewed focus on striking a trade deal with Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

ABOUT SACU

• The resource rich Southern African Customs Union (SACU), is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
• It is one of the largest suppliers of raw primary or semi-processed commodities.
• HQ: Windhoek (Namibia)
• It is the world’s oldest customs union which was established in 1910.
• The Economic structure of the Union links the Member states by a single tariff and no customs duties between them.
• Also there is a common external tariff that applies to nonmembers of SACU.

ANSWER: A

• Officers of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 6,850 live red-eared sliders, a species of turtle, from two male passengers at the Tiruchi international airport.

ABOUT RED-EARED SLIDERS TURTLE (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)

• It is known for its distinct red stripes behind each ear.
• The red-eared slider is native to South-Eastern USA and Mexico.
• It is a semi-aquatic turtle from fresh and brackish water ecosystems.
• It spends the majority of its time either in the water foraging or basking on rocks and logs.
• The species is considered as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive non-native species.
• In the wild, red sliders can live from 20 to 50 years.
• These are fed mainly on plants and small animals, such as crickets and fish etc.
• IUCN red list status : Least Concern

ANSWER: D

• A new species of jumping spider named ‘Hasarius Mumbai’ was recently discovered from the rocks close to the streams at the Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) conservation education centre in Goregaon East.

ABOUT HASARIUS MUMBAI

• It is a newly discovered species of jumping spider.
• These are spiders who, instead of trapping their prey in a web, stalk and hunt them by pouncing.
• It has multiple eyes that give a 360-degree view of its surroundings and a bulbous body covered in hair.
• In India, there are only two other Hasarius species which have been documented, namely Adansoni, which is found across the country, including in urban areas, and kjellerupi, which was documented from the Nicobar Islands.

ANSWER: D

• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26^th June every year.
• The United Nations General Assembly in 1987, decided to observe June 26 as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
• Theme for 2023: People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.
• The aim of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy; providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all; offering alternatives to p unishment; prioritising prevention; and leading with compassion.

ANSWER: B

• International Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day or World MSME Day is observed every year on 27^th June all over the world to highlight the significance of MSMEs and how they play a crucial role in being the backbone of the country’s economy.
• The theme of this year’s celebration is “Building a Stronger Future Together.”
• The theme for MSME Day 2023 in India is “Future-ready MSMEs for India@100.”