India’s First, Hydrogen-Powered Trains

• The establishment of India's inaugural hydrogen facility is underway near the railway junction in Jind district.
• The plant's progress has advanced to the final phase, with hydrogen production planned from water as the source.
• Anticipated for the financial year 2023-2024, the initial hydrogen train prototype is set to be launched between Jind and Sonipat on the Northern Railway.

PM Modi Signs MoUs with Egypt

• With the aim of enhancing the India-Egypt relationship to a "strategic partnership," Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt have signed four agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
• During their meeting, Prime Minister Modi and President Sisi signed an agreement to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a "strategic partnership."
• Three other MoUs were signed in the areas of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law. Additionally, both leaders expressed their commitment to strengthen the partnership between the two nations.

Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023

• Startup Genome's Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023) has been recently published, offering a thorough examination of startup ecosystems across the globe.
• According to the report, the top three ecosystems, namely Silicon Valley, New York City, and London, have successfully retained their positions since 2020.
• The startup ecosystems in India are witnessing a remarkable ascent, particularly in Mumbai, which has climbed an impressive five spots to achieve a joint rank of 31.
• Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Delhi have also made noteworthy progress by moving up two positions each, securing the 20^th and 24^th ranks, respectively.
• The report credits India's expanding digital public infrastructure for this advancement, emphasizing its influential role in fostering the country's startup growth.

Global Competitiveness Index 2023:

• India secured the 40^th position in the Global Competitive Index 2023.
• Global Competitive Index is released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
• Although the country has dropped three places compared to the previous year, it still maintains a better position than its 43^rd rank in 2019-2021.
• Among the 64 nations surveyed, Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland have emerged as the leading three economies in terms of competitiveness.

World Drug Day 2023

• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed on June 26 every year.
• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is commemorated as a tribute to Lin Zexu, who played a crucial role in dismantling the opium trade in the Guangdong region of China.
• The theme for International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2023 is "People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention."

India’s First Omicron-Specific mRNA Booster Vaccine

• Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, based in Pune, has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorization of its mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine, GEMCOVAC-OM.
• The vaccine, specifically developed to target the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2, has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in phase 3 clinical trials, suggesting its efficacy in mitigating future waves of the pandemic.

PM Modi Awarded ‘Order of the Nile’

• On June 25, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Egypt's highest honour, the 'Order of the Nile,' by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Cairo.
• Established in 1915, the prestigious 'Order of the Nile' is bestowed upon heads of state and crown princes as a recognition of their invaluable contributions and services.