Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 30, 2024

Notes:
India’s men’s recurve team clinched a historic gold at the Archery World Cup Stage-1 by defeating South Korea, breaking a 14-year gold drought. The triumphant trio – Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav – beat South Korea’s world-champion squad 5-1. This marked India’s highest-ever medal tally in an Archery World Cup, with eight medals, including five golds, two silvers, and one bronze. India sent a 16-member squad, featuring eight men and eight women, to Shanghai.

Notes:
During US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s recent visit to China, discussions highlighted the concerning production and export of “synthetic opioid precursors,” particularly fentanyl. These opioids mimic substances in the opium poppy plant and activate opioid receptors, causing pain relief and euphoria, but also high addiction risks. Fentanyl, 100 times more potent than morphine, poses significant overdose risks, marked by pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness, and breathing difficulties.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issues draft notification defining the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan. The ESZ aims to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and conserve wildlife. The sanctuary, established in 1983, houses endangered species like leopard, Indian wolf, and vulture. The draft proposes an ESZ of 348.60 sq km around the sanctuary’s core area. Public feedback is sought within 60 days. A Supreme Court directive mandates ESZs for all protected forests, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Notes:
The Ministry of Finance has granted Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status to the gem and jewellery sector to enhance ease of doing business. Asian Star, a leading diamond manufacturer, is the first recipient in the industry. The AEO program, under the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework, aims to secure international supply chains. AEO status offers benefits like quicker clearance and enhanced security, aligning with World Trade Organization trade facilitation agreements. Introduced in India in 2011, the voluntary AEO Programme by CBIC simplifies customs procedures.

Notes:
The RBI and Finance Ministry could draw from ASEAN’s evolving green taxonomy for sustainable trajectories. Green taxonomy defines environmentally sound investments, aiding in preventing greenwashing and guiding informed investment decisions. It channels funds toward sustainable economic activities, encompassing climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation. Activities must contribute substantially to environmental objectives, avoid significant harm, and adhere to social safeguards. Some taxonomies adopt a “traffic light” system for classifying environmental sustainability.