Quiz

Algeria has joined the New Development Bank (NDB) as a new member. NDB was established by the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). It was founded in 2014 during the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil and became operational in 2015.

India asked BRICS countries to remove export controls to improve trade within the group. India will lead BRICS in 2026. India proposed '30 for 30', an initiative to mark 30 years of the WTO. India also urged rich nations to share Environmentally Sound Technologies at lower costs.

The meeting's theme was: "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance."

Blockchain technology: Blockchain is a method of storing data in such a manner that it is difficult or impossible to alter, hack, or defraud it. A blockchain is a digital log of transactions that is copied and distributed throughout the blockchain's complete network of computer systems.

Three pillars of blockchain:

Decentralization: The actual definition of decentralization is the absence of a central authority. If we apply this notion to Blockchain, it indicates that the network is self-governing and does not have a central authority.

Transparency: In real life, transparency refers to anything that has no opacity. When we apply this notion to Blockchain, it means that there is no privacy. To be more specific, when it comes to transactions, all transactions are public and can be read by everyone on the network.

Immutability: Immutable implies precisely what it sounds like in real life: something that cannot be changed. When we talk about blockchain, we're referring to the fact that once a transaction is published into the system, it can't be changed.

Hence the correct answer is All of the Above.

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was created in 1964 to address governmental corruption, monitor all vigilance under the central government, and advise various authorities.

Home Minister Amit Shah to Lay Foundation Stones for Cancer Care & Forensic University Campuses in Nagpur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Maharashtra. He will lay the foundation stone of 'Swasti Niwas' at the National Cancer Institute in Jamtha, Nagpur.

Panchayati Raj Ministry launches Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 portal & booklet for FY 2023-24. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized a two-day national write-shop in New Delhi.

Novak Djokovic Clinches 100th ATP Title with Geneva Open Win. He achieved this by winning the Geneva Open Men's Singles. Djokovic defeated Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the final. Djokovic is the third player in the Open era to win 100 ATP titles. The other two are Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and Roger Federer (103 titles).

The Arabian Sea Branch of the Southwest Monsoon first hits the Western Ghats of the coastal state of Kerala, India. It moves northwards providing rain to the coastal areas of the Western Ghats. Thus making this area the first state in India to receive rain from the Southwest Monsoon.

PM Modi launched the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019 with an aim to provide tap water connection to all by the year 2024 (Har Ghar Jal). At present, under the mission, tap water supply has been provide to 4 crore rural households. At present, 56 districts and 86,283 villages have Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC).

PADH-AI: Conclave on AI in Education was held in New Delhi. It aligns with India’s goals in education, skill development, innovation, and global competitiveness of startups and MSMEs. The conclave promotes dialogue on critical issues around AI in education.

In a significant reorganisation within India's security apparatus, the Centre has announced pivotal appointments in key agencies, giving charge of the new Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to distinguished IPS officer Sadanand Vasant Date.

Chandrakant Sompura is the chief architect of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, he hails from a distinguished lineage of temple architects based in Ahmedabad.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its 2023-24 report, updated India's coastline length to 11,098.8 km, a significant increase from the previously recorded 7,516.6 km.

Updated coastline (2024): 11,098.8 km

Previous length (1970s): 7,516.6 km

No land added - just more accurate measurement

Nicusor Dan, an independent candidate, became the President of Romania in 2025. He won the presidential runoff held on 18th May with 53.6% of the votes. Defeated George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians.

The Padma Vibhushan was instituted in 1954 by the Government of India. This award is the second-highest civilian award in India after the Bharat Ratna and announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26 Jan).

Padma Vibhushan has been awarded to 7 individuals for exceptional and distinguished service.

India Records USD 81.04 Billion FDI Inflow in FY 2024-25. India has an investor-friendly FDI policy, with most sectors open to 100% FDI under the automatic route. FDI inflows grew from USD 36.05 billion (FY 2013-14) to USD 81.04 billion (FY 2024-25). Services sector received the highest FDI in FY 2024-25 (19%), followed by computer software and hardware (16%) and trading (8%).

India to develop indigenous two-seater electric trainer aircraft. E-Hansa is a next-generation two-seater electric trainer aircraft. It is being indigenously developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru.

Citizens who reside in Ladakh for 15 years to be treated as domiciles. The Union government is working on a new domicile policy for Ladakh Anyone who has lived in Ladakh continuously for 15 years starting from 2019 will be considered a domicile. This means outsiders settling after 2019 will only be considered domiciles after 2034.

The Indian Army is going to have the 17th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Conducted alternately in India and Mongolia since 2006. The 17th edition will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The 2024 edition was conducted in Meghalaya, India.

The Battery Aadhaar Initiative was launched by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh.It aims to track the full life cycle of batteries - from manufacturing to disposal. Each battery pack will get a unique digital identity, called Battery Aadhaar.

Kilauea volcano erupts on Hawaii's Big Island, lava fountains reach 1,000 feet into the air. It released lava fountains over 1,000 feet high in its 23rd eruption episode since December 2024.

The United Nations observes the International Day of UN Peacekeepers every year on May 29. The date was designated by the UN General Assembly in resolution 57/129. May 29 marks the start of the first UN peacekeeping mission, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), which began in 1948 in Palestine.

Anubhav Awards, 2025 to be conferred by the Union Minister of State, Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare, Dr. Jitendra Singh on 18.08.2025 under National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025.

Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan launched to strengthen "Lab to Land" connection. It was launched by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture Minister from Sakhigopal in Puri district, Odisha.

Goa becomes second Indian state to achieve 100% literacy. Goa has achieved 100% literacy under the ULLAS Nav Bharat Literacy Programme.

Japan Enacts Law Obliging Big Firms To Join Carbon Trading By 2026. Japan's parliament passed a law for a mandatory carbon emission trading system.

'Rabindranama' art exhibition opens to celebrate Rabindranath Tagore's enduring legacy. IGCC, Dhaka launched a week-long art exhibition titled 'Rabindranama' held at the Indian Cultural Centre, Dhaka.

Recently, Diu became the first district in India to meet its entire power demand using solar energy, achieving a capacity of 11.88 megawatts (MW). Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi praised Diu as a national model for adopting clean energy.

Nomadic Elephant is a joint military exercise conducted annually between the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces to enhance interoperability and strengthen military ties.

IOB, Amul, Richplus to promote organic farming. Tripartite MoU signed between Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Amul, and Rich Plus to promote organic farming in India.

The government announced three more startups selected to develop India's first home-grown Al foundational model: SoketAl, Gnani.ai, and Gan Al. Earlier, Sarvam Al was shortlisted for the same initiative.

World No Tobacco Day was created in 1987 by the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO). The purpose is to raise awareness about the tobacco epidemic and its preventable health effects. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution, designating 7 April 1988 as a world no-smoking day.

The theme for 2025 is: "Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the Appeal".

India's first Al-focused SEZ will be developed in Nava Raipur with an investment of ₹1,000 crore by RackBank Data centers. The SEZ will host global tech giants like Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta for Al research and development.

Telangana movement began with major protests in 1969, and again in 1972. After decades of agitation, the Telangana Bill was passed in February 2014. Telangana officially became a state on 2 June 2014, ending a 57-year struggle. The State has an area of 1,12,077 sq.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a new Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) building at Rajarhat, Kolkata. The lab was built at a cost of ₹88 crore. It will benefit West Bengal and nearby states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Sikkim, Assam, and other northeastern regions.

The Ministry of Ayush launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal to combat misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions in the Ayush sector. Ayush Suraksha Portal is a digital platform enhancing pharmacovigilance and regulatory oversight in traditional medicine. The portal enables citizens, healthcare professionals, and regulatory authorities to report and monitor such issues in real time. It integrates data from State Licensing Authorities, national pharmacovigilance centers, and multiple regulatory bodies for coordinated action.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda announced a $10 billion five-year plan to enhance India's urban infrastructure and services. Focus areas include metro expansions, RRTS corridors, clean energy, and urban services. The plan supports India's Urban Challenge Fund, encouraging private investment in city infrastructure projects. ADB has a longstanding partnership with India, providing both sovereign and nonsovereign financing since 1986.

Rajiv Memani, EY India Chairman & CEO, has been appointed President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for FY26. R Mukundan (Tata Chemicals) and Suchitra K Ella (Bharat Biotech) were appointed president-designate and vice president, respectively.

China has invited Nepal to join its new International Mediation Organisation (IOMed). IOMed was formally launched on May 30, 2025, in Hong Kong. It offers an alternative to arbitration or litigation by promoting mediation for resolving international disputes. 33 founding member countries joined initially, mostly from Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.

Karol Nawrocki, an independent candidate supported by the opposition Law and Justice party, won Poland's presidential runoff election. He secured around 51% of the vote, narrowly defeating Rafal Trzaskowski, the Civic Coalition candidate and Mayor of Warsaw, who got over 49%. This was Nawrocki's first presidential campaign, and he had trailed in pre-election polls and exit surveys.

Telangana government notified the tiger corridor connecting Kawal Tiger Reserve with Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve as Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve in May 2025.

Location: The reserve covers 1492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar divisions in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana.

The park, which will be called ‘Sindoor Van’, will be built as a mark of respect for the Indian defence forces and the unity displayed by the citizens. The Gujarat government is reportedly planning to build a memorial park dedicated to Operation Sindoor near the India-Pakistan border in Kutch district.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched Bharat Gen Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) at the BharatGen Summit. BharatGen is India's first government-funded, indigenously built Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Multimodal Large Language Model.

From June 15 to 17, 2025, Canada will host the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Genocide Watch chairs the Alliance Against Genocide, a coalition of 125 international human rights organizations. We are writing to express our opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's attendance at the G7 Summit.

Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’. I was approved by the Union Government in June 2014. Its aim is to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga. It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Apsara is the first nuclear reactor made in India. Apsara reactor was built in August 1956. The Apsara reactor was named by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. It was a highly versatile swimming pool type of reactor. It was created to conduct basic research in nuclear physics.

Annalena Baerbock of Germany was elected as President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. President-Elect: Annalena Baerbock was elected to preside over the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, nominated by Germany.

Role: She aims to serve as a unifier and an honest broker, engaging in trust-based dialogue with all Member States.

New Centre of Excellence Launched to Drive Agricultural Transformation through South-South Cooperation.

ICRISAT launched the Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) in Hyderabad.

Aim: To accelerate agricultural innovation and collaboration across the Global South.

BSF, at present, has the responsibility of guarding the Indo-Myanmar border, and the frontier with Pakistan and Bangladesh. India’s border with China is guarded by ITBP. The borders with Nepal and Bhutan are guarded by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The government of India is integrating agricultural schemes under the unified Krishi Nivesh portal to streamline investments in the agriculture sector.

Purpose: The Krishi Nivesh portal aims to streamline agri-investments by integrating multiple schemes from various ministries and state governments.

Investment Opportunities: The portal categorizes investment opportunities based on geographical spread to unlock sectoral investment potential.

Germany has overtaken Japan as the world's leading creditor nation for the first time in 34 years. Japan's Loss: Japan, with ¥533.05 trillion in net external assets, lost its top position, which it had held since 1991.

Germany surpassed Japan with ¥569.7 trillion in net external assets, driven by a strong current account surplus of €248.7 billion.

Elon Musk has launched XChat, a new messaging platform, as a competitor to WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat.

Security Features: XChat offers Bitcoin-style encryption, disappearing messages, and end-to-end encryption for secure communication.

Cross-Platform Communication: The platform supports audio/video calls and file sharing across devices.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participates in 'National Agro-RE Summit 2025'. Organised by: National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI)

Purpose: To promote integration of renewable energy in the agriculture sector

Released: NSEFI's report and annual reference book on agriculture & renewable energy

Lee Jae-myung, from the Liberal Democratic Party, is the 21st President of South Korea. Won against Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party. Snap poll followed the ouster of former president Yoon Suk-yeol for attempting martial law. Lee vows to prevent military coups, calling Yoon's attempt a military coup.

Two new wetlands in Rajasthan: Khichan (Phalodi) and Menar (Udaipur) declared as Ramsar Sites. Total Ramsar Sites in India now: 91 highest in Asia.

Rajasthan now has 4 Ramsar Sites: Sambhar Salt Lake, Keoladeo National Park, Khichan and Menar

Ramsar Convention adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.

It aims for conservation and wise use of wetlands globally. India joined Ramsar Convention in 1982.

India elected to Economic, Social Council of United Nations for 2 years beginning 2026. India elected to ECOSOC for the 2026-28 term.

ECOSOC = Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

It advances three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. Established in 1945 under the UN Charter.

Composed of 54 member states, elected for three-year overlapping terms.

World Environment Day is celebrated every year on 5 June. The 2025 theme is "Putting an End to Plastic Pollution". It supports the UNEP-led #BeatPlastic Pollution campaign. Established in 1972 during the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. Officially designated by the UN General Assembly in 1972. The first celebration was held in 1973 with the theme "Only One Earth". South Korea is the official host of World Environment Day 2025.

India has won the presidency of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS). India received 87 out of 141 votes, defeating Austria. India was represented by the Department of Administrative Reforms.

IIAS is a federation of: 31 Member Countries, 20 National Section, 15 Academic Research Centres

IIAS works closely with the United Nations, especially: Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA), UN Public Administration Network (UNPAN)

Mount Etna erupts: All about Europe's most active volcano. Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy erupted on June 2, 2025. The eruption produced a cloud of smoke and ash rising several kilometres into the air.

Mount Etna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of Europe's and the world's most active volcanoes. Documented eruption activity spans over 2,700 years, making it one of the longest historic volcanic records in the world.

India's first variable speed pumped storage plant commences operations. THDC India Ltd. operates India's first Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant (PSP). The plant is located at Tehri, Uttarakhand. The first 250 MW unit of the plant has achieved Commercial Operation Declaration (COD).

Government plans to wind down National Polio Surveillance Network centres in India. The Government of India, in collaboration with the WHO, plans to phase down the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN). The number of surveillance units will be reduced from 280 in 2024-25 to 140 by 2026-27. NPSN was established in 1997 by the WHO and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is a nationwide surveillance system with over 200 field units. It was crucial in India being declared polio-free in 2014.

Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge (359 m above river), inaugurated by PM Modi in J&K. Anji Bridge, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, also inaugurated. Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) dedicated to the nation; 272 km long, includes 36 tunnels (119 km) and 943 bridges; cost approx ₹43,780 crore.

Indian Army launches 'Operation Shiva' to ensure foolproof security for Amarnath Yatra 2025. The shrine is located at 3,888 meters in Jammu & Kashmir. Over 42,000 security personnel deployed, including CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, and CISF.

India reaffirmed its commitment to global disaster risk reduction and public health cooperation at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025 in Geneva. Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, represented India at the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group Roundtable during GPDRR. The African Union (AU) joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), strengthening Global South collaboration. India supports expanding global partnerships to build safe, inclusive, and future-ready infrastructure. India expressed full support for the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit to be held in New Delhi, December 2025.

India launches 'Ayush Nivesh Saarthi' portal to boost investment in traditional medicine. The Government of India launched the Ayush Nivesh Saarthi portal at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The portal was jointly launched by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) and Prataprao Jadhav (State Minister, Ayush). Developed by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with Invest India, it is an investor-centric digital platform.

President Droupadi Murmu presented Distinguished Service Awards at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-II. The event took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 4, 2025. A total of 92 awards were given to personnel from the Armed Forces, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), and Border Roads Organisation (BRO). These included 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSM), five Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSM), and 57 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSM).

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government declared a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district. It lies within the ecologically important Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. Greater Flamingo is a pink, large wading bird found across Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe.

Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) disbursed ₹300 crore as margin money subsidy to 8,794 beneficiaries. This was done under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). PMEGP is a central sector scheme launched in August 2008 to create jobs by supporting micro-enterprises in rural and urban non-farm sectors. It is a credit-linked subsidy scheme managed by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a technology-driven system for Index Cards and statistical reports. Previously, manual data entry was done using Physical Index Cards. It is a non-statutory, post-election statistical format developed suo moto by ECI.

Purpose: to improve accessibility of constituency-level election data.

Covers details like candidates, electors, votes polled, vote share (party-wise and candidate-wise), gender-based voting, regional patterns, and party performance.

1. Mahendra Dev has been appointed as Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). He resigned as independent director of Axis Bank after this appointment. Suman Bery, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, currently heads EAC-PM. Dev is an expert in agriculture and rural economy. He is editor of Economic and Political Weekly and chairs the Institute for Development Studies, Andhra Pradesh. Former Director of Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR). Holds a PhD from Delhi School of Economics and did post-doc at Yale University.

India & 5 Central Asian countries express interest in joint exploration of rare earth & critical minerals. India and Central Asian countries aim for joint exploration of rare earth and critical minerals. The 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in New Delhi, chaired by Dr. S. Jaishankar. Ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan attended.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh Leads Indian Delegation to UN Ocean Conference in France. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Earth Sciences Minister, left for France to attend an International Meet on Oceans. The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) is being held in Nice, France. The event includes leaders, scientists, policymakers, and civil society discussing sustainable ocean governance.

The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) was inaugurated for the Puducherry Legislative Assembly on June 9 by the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting & Parliamentary Affairs. NeVA is a digital platform by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MOPA) to make legislative work paperless and efficient. It follows the 'One Nation - One Application' vision to connect all 37 State and Union Territory (UT) Legislatures.

Sarah Joseph, a prominent Malayalam writer, received the 2024 Mathrubhumi Literary Award.

The award was presented by Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Ray in Kozhikode.

It includes:  a cash prize of ₹3 lakh,  a citation,  a sculpture by M V Devan.

Carlos Alcaraz defends his crown, beats Jannik Sinner to win longest French Open men's singles final in history. He defeated world number 1 Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller: 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6.

It was the longest French Open men's final ever, lasting 5 hours and 29 minutes. The previous longest final was in 1982 (4 hrs 42 mins - Wilander vs Vilas).

Coco Gauff Clinches First French Open Title, Defeats Sabalenka in Grand Slam Final. Coco Gauff, a 21-year-old American, won the 2025 French Open Women's Singles title. She defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final: 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. This is Gauff's first French Open title and second Grand Slam victory (after the 2023 US Open). She became the first American woman to win the French Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2015. Gauff is the youngest American to win the title since Serena in 2002. This was the first Grand Slam final on clay for Sabalenka, and her third consecutive Slam final overall.

Maharashtra and Karnataka accounted for 51% of total FDI inflows in FY25. Maharashtra received the highest FDI: $19.6 billion, or 31% of total FDI. Karnataka got $6.62 billion in foreign investment.

Delhi To Get India's 1st E-Waste Eco Park. Delhi will launch an e-waste Eco Park in Holambi Kalan. It will cover 11.4 acres and process 51,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually. The investment is ₹150 crore, with a revenue target of ₹350 crore. The park will handle around 25% of Delhi's e-waste. It will be built under the DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer) model. The project follows a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) approach with a 15-year concession period. It is expected to become a model for similar projects across India.

India assumed the chairmanship of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum after the conclusion of the 11th forum held in Brasilia, Brazil. India was entrusted with hosting the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, taking on the chairmanship role for the next session.

India's first International Agri Hackathon, held in Pune, focused on creating innovative solutions for agricultural climate resilience. The hackathon addressed the challenges posed by climate change and focused on leveraging technology to enhance agricultural resilience.

The State Public Health Laboratory in Kerala developed molecular diagnostic tests to identify five species of harmful amoeba that can cause amoebic meningoencephalitis. The laboratory developed its own molecular diagnostic test kits to identify five species of free-living amoeba (FLA) that are toxic to humans and can cause amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana (also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) is primarily a health insurance scheme. It was launched in 2018 by the Government of India to provide health coverage to economically disadvantaged families. The scheme aims to cover secondary and tertiary healthcare services for over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. It is not specifically categorized under poverty alleviation programs, as its focus is on healthcare rather than direct poverty reduction.

Chandrakant Sompura, the chief architect of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, hails from a distinguished lineage of temple architects based in Ahmedabad. With a family legacy spanning over several generations, the Sompuras have left an indelible mark on Indian temple architecture, having designed and built more than 200 temples.

The Indian Parliament ensured 33% women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. This act, also known as the Women's Reservation Bill, 2023, was passed by both houses of Parliament in September 2023.

The women's reservation bill was first introduced by HD Deve Gowda-led government, as Constitution (81st Amendment) Bill, 1996 in the 11th Lok Sabha on 12th September. The implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill, also known as the Constitution 108th Amendment Bill of 2008, is imperative for contemporary Indian society. This legislation has encountered six unsuccessful attempts to get cleared since its initial introduction in 1996.

The Representation of the People Act was passed in 1951. Representation of Peoples Act 1951 provides for the actual conduct of elections in India. Act deals with the election of the Parliament and State Legislatures, the qualifications, and disqualifications for membership of Parliament and state legislatures It was introduced in Parliament by the then law minister Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It was enacted under Article 327 of the Indian Constitution before the first general election in India. Representation of the People’s Act contains 13 parts. Articles 324 to 329 deal with the electoral system in India. The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced by Varun Gandhi in Lok Sabha.

The Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India organised the first State/UTs engagement workshop under the National One Health Mission. Chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India. It brought together diverse stakeholders to promote collaborative efforts. Emphasis on syndromic surveillance and mock drills (e.g., Vishanu Yuddh Abhyaas) for health preparedness. Gujarat and Kerala showcased their One Health infrastructure development. A Youth Engagement Program was launched for innovation via hackathons and digital campaigns

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 29th Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting in Mumbai. Emphasis was laid on citizens' interest and a smooth refund process.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will soon launch the CROPIC initiative. CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops. It is launched under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The initiative uses artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to monitor crop health and stress. It aims to automate crop loss assessment and ensure faster payment of insurance claims to farmers.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released the 2025 Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources. The report highlights that deep-sea species are hard to manage due to their slow growth, late maturity, long lifespans, low natural death rates, and rare spawning. Only 29% of deep-sea fish stocks are being fished sustainably, making them highly vulnerable. It raises concern over overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Globally, 64.5% of all fishery stocks are within sustainable levels, but 35.5% are overfished.

A farmers' conference is being held at Bardoli, Gujarat to mark the end of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan.

Several Centres of Excellence will be inaugurated:

• Horticultural crops - Porbandar
• Bananas and vegetables - Petlad
• Primary processing centre - Kutch

14 crop storage godowns (25,000 MT capacity) will be virtually dedicated. A new Centre of Excellence for sugarcane will be initiated at Bardoli. The campaign covered 2,250 village clusters across 31 districts in Gujarat. Farmers were trained in modern agricultural technology and micronutrient use.

Railways safety body gives final nod for Mizoram capital's first rail link. The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved the Hortoki-Sairang line in Mizoram. It's the final leg of the Bairabi-Sairang railway project. Enables first-ever rail access to Aizawl, Mizoram's capital, via a 33.86 km section. The route passes through hilly terrain, with 32 tunnels and 35 major bridges. Sairang is a satellite town, ~20 km from Aizawl. Bairabi, near the Assam border, was the only railhead in Mizoram till now. The project is part of the Ministry of Railways' mission to connect all Northeast state capitals by rail.

India's social security coverage jumps to 64.3%, ranks 2nd globally: ILO. India's social security coverage rose from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025. This is a 45 percentage point increase in a decade, the fastest expansion globally. Over 94 crore people in India are now covered under at least one social protection benefit. India now ranks second in the world by number of social protection beneficiaries. ILO (International Labour Organisation) acknowledged this success on its official dashboard.

International Labour Organization (ILO): It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) dedicated to improving labour conditions and living standards throughout the world. Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations, the ILO became the first affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946. Its headquarter is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Department of Posts has launched Gyan Post, a special postal service for delivering educational, cultural, social, and religious books. It supports the goals of the New Education Policy (NEP) by making printed learning material affordable and accessible, especially in rural and remote areas. A tracking facility is available to ensure transparency and timely delivery. This initiative helps bridge the educational gap and promote inclusive learning across India

The World Bank released the State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 as carbon pricing now covers 28% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and raises over $100 billion in revenue. Carbon pricing attaches a cost to emitting GHGs to encourage emission reductions and reflect environmental costs. There are 80 active carbon pricing instruments, up from 5 in 2005, including Emissions Trading Systems (ETS), carbon taxes, and carbon credit markets. India introduced ETS rules in 2024 for its industrial sector, using rate-based benchmarks instead of emission caps.

Israel, under “Operation Rising Lion”, launched airstrikes and drone attacks on Iran’s nuclear and military sites — including Tehran, the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, a nuclear research centre, two military bases in Tabriz, and an underground missile storage site in Kermanshah — to prevent Iran from advancing towards building an atomic weapon.

India slips to 131st position in Global Gender Gap Index 2025. India ranked 131 out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025, dropping 2 positions from 129 last year. India's parity score is 64.1%, making it one of the lowest-ranked countries in South Asia.

India slips to 131st position in Global Gender Gap Index 2025. India ranked 131 out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025, dropping 2 positions from 129 last year. India's parity score is 64.1%, making it one of the lowest-ranked countries in South Asia.

Global Gender Gap Index: It is published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The index assesses countries based on gender equality across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

The name changed to its current name in 1998. The Federation affiliates more than 150 National Shooting Federation. The ISSF headquarters is in Munich, Germany. Since 2022, the ISSF Presidency has been held by Luciano Rossi, a former Italian Senator and head of the Italian Clay Pigeon Federation (FITAV)

Empower Citizens, Expose Corruption"-Lokpal of India adopts a new motto. Lokpal of India is an independent statutory body established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. The Act came into effect on 16th January 2014. It investigates corruption allegations against public functionaries. The headquarters is located at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

The composition includes:

1 Chairperson (former Chief Justice of India or Supreme Court Judge),

Up to 8 Members (4 Judicial + 4 Non-Judicial),

Appointed by the President, based on a high-level Selection Committee's recommendations.