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YUVA AI for ALL Initiative

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the YUVA AI for ALL Initiative to help everyone understand Artificial Intelligence.

About YUVA AI for ALL Initiative:

It is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the IndiaAI Mission.
It is a first-of-its-kind free course that introduces the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to all Indians, especially the youth.
It consists of 5-hour self-paced course designed to make students, professionals and other curious learners comfortable with the basics of Artificial intelligence.
Aim: To empower 1 crore (10 million) citizens with foundational AI skills.
Key Features of YUVA AI for ALL Initiative:
It’s simple, practical, and filled with real-life Indian examples to make learning relatable and fun.
It is available for free on leading learning platforms - Future Skills Prime, iGOT Karmayogi, and other popular ed-tech portals.
Every learner who completes the course will get an official certificate from the Government of India.
It’s 100% free and open to everyone.
It allows learning at one’s own pace — anytime, anywhere.

What is IndiaAI Mission?

It was initially launched as a joint initiative between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Nasscom in 2023.
The mission’s key goals are:
“Making AI in India” – Encouraging domestic AI development.
“Making AI Work for India” – Ensuring AI benefits various sectors in the country.
It aims to bolster India’s AI ecosystem by making high-end computing resources accessible to startups and researchers.

BIRSA 101

Recently, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology launched India's first indigenous "CRISPR" based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease and named it BIRSA 101.

About BIRSA 101:

It is India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy, designed to treat Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
The therapy has been named Birsa-101 in honour of the tribal leader Birsa Munda.
Developed by: It is developed by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB).

Key Features of BIRSA 101

CRISPR Technology: It utilizes the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool to correct the genetic mutation causing Sickle Cell Disease.
Affordability: It is priced significantly lower than global CRISPR treatments, making it more accessible to the poorest populations.

How does Birsa-101 cure sickle cell disease?

Birsa-101 precisely corrects the mutations in the genetic code that causes the disease.
The therapy has to be given as a one-time infusion, after which the body should start producing normal red blood cells instead of sickle-shaped ones.

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

It is a genetic condition that leads to the body’s red blood cells becoming rigid, sickle-shaped, and less capable of carrying oxygen.
The shape of the blood cells can also lead to blockages in blood flow, leading to acute episodes of pain, chronic pain, organ damage, anaemia, infections, and strokes.
A person can be a carrier and not have a disease.
The likelihood of a child having the disease increases if both parents are carriers or one parent has the disease and the other is a carrier.

Joint Crediting Mechanism

Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change participated in the 11th Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Partner Countries’ Meeting.

About Joint Crediting Mechanism:

It was first proposed by the Government of Japan and was officially launched in 2013.
Aim: It is a Japanese initiative that aims to facilitate diffusion of leading decarbonizing technologies and infrastructure through investment by Japanese entities and contributes to sustainable development of partner countries.
It’s a bilateral mechanism which is being implemented in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The JCM contributes to the achievement of both countries’ NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) by evaluating Japan’s contributions in a quantitative manner and acquiring the part of credit.
It operates under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It complements other existing mechanisms, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI).
India is one of the 31 partner countries of the Joint Crediting Mechanism.

Focus Area of Joint Crediting Mechanism:

This mechanism focuses on priority sectors which includes renewable energy with storage, sustainable aviation fuel, compressed biogas, green hydrogen and green ammonia, and in hard-to-abate sectors.

Sagar Kavach

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully conducted the comprehensive Coastal Security Exercise Sagar Kavach-02/25 along the Maharashtra and Goa coastline recently.

About Sagar Kavach:

It is a biannual coastal security drill led by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) that tests and improves coastal security mechanisms against asymmetric threats.
A wide range of central and state agencies, including the Indian Navy, State Police, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, , are part of this exercise.
The exercise aims to assess the preparedness of all participating agencies in handling coastal security emergencies, preventing attacks on vital coastal installations, and further strengthening the multi-layered Coastal Security Network.
During the exercise, security forces are split into a "Red team" that simulates infiltrators and a "Blue Team" that detects and neutralises them, assessing inter-agency coordination and response times.
The key activities of the Sagar Kavach drill generally include heightened surveillance, boat patrols, vehicle checks, and simulated attacks on vital installations to strengthen the country's coastal security framework.
Recognizing the pivotal role of fishermen in coastal security, the exercise emphasizes the need for their active involvement.
Fishermen are urged to promptly report any unknown vessels operating in proximity to the coast to the ICG.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) recently signed a series of major agreements valued at about ₹3,000 crore to boost cargo movement, passenger transport and river-based tourism in the Northeast.

About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):

It is a statutory body established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act (IWAI), 1985.
It came into existence on 27th October 1986 for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
The Authority primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of inland water transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
It also takes up techno-economic feasibility studies and prepares proposals for the declaration of other waterways as National Waterways.
It also advises the Central Government on matters related to IWT and assists States in the development of the IWT sector.
Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
The Authority also has its regional offices at Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Kochi and sub-offices at Allahabad, Varanasi, Farakka, Sahibganj, Haldia, Swroopganj, Hemnagar, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Silchar, Kollam, Bhubaneshwar, and Vijayawada.

Exercise Malabar

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri is at Guam in the Northern Pacific for participation in the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025.

About Exercise Malabar:

It was started in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and US navy.
The first Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal took place in 2007.
It was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan in 2015.
In 2020, the Australian Navy joined the Malabar Exercise, making it a quadrilateral naval exercise.
It takes place annually in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans alternatively.
It has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.

Key Facts about Exercise Malabar-2025

It involves two phases

Harbour Phase: It will feature operational planning and discussions, alignment on communication protocols, familiarisation visits between participating nations, and sports fixtures.
Sea Phase: Following the harbour phase, all participating units will proceed in this phase, wherein ships and aircraft will take part in naval drills, focusing on joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery serials and flying operations.

BIMSTEC- India Marine Research Network Conference

Recently, Kochi hosted the first BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) Conference to boost blue economy cooperation.

About BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network Conference:

It is a biennial regional platform for facilitating collaboration among the researchers in the Bay of Bengal Region, sustainable development of blue economy by networking the researchers in the BIMSTEC Member Countries.
Background: It was first announced by the Prime Minister of India during the Colombo BIMSTEC Summit in 2022.
It was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Key Features of BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network Conference
It has connected 25 institutions and over 50 researchers from BIMSTEC countries.
It aligns with India’s broader regional policy objectives under its Neighbourhood First, Act East, Indo-Pacific and MAHASAGAR
It served as a milestone in advancing regional cooperation in marine research and sustainable blue economy initiatives.
It focused on marine challenges, ecosystem health, and research innovations, including building scientific networks among young researchers, effective marine resource management and harmonious policy development.

Denmark

Recently, Denmark’s government announced a political agreement to ban access to social media for anyone aged under 15.

About Denmark:

Location: It is located in north central Europe and it is part of the Scandinavian countries.
It also encompasses the Faroe Islands and the island of Greenland, both located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Bordering Country: It shares a land border with Germany in the south.
Water bodies: It is surrounded by bodies of water including the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Kattegat Bay and Kiel Bay.
Capital City: Copenhagen
Geographical Features of Denmark
Topography: The most part Denmark consists of flat lands with very little elevation, except for the hilly central area on the Jutland Peninsula.
Denmark occupies the Jutland Peninsula and an archipelago of more than 443 islands
The coastline of Denmark is indented by many fjords, with LimFjord(in the north) the largest.
Climate: It is moderated by the warm Gulf Stream and is therefore milder than surrounding Scandinavian countries.
Rivers: The most significant include the Guden (longest river), Odense and Skjern.
Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk stone.

UN Water Convention

Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to join the U.N.’s Water Convention earlier.

About UN Water Convention:

It is also known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakeswhich was adopted in Helsinki in 1992 and entered into force in 1996.

History of UN Water Convention

It was originally negotiated as a regional framework for the pan-European region.
Following an amendment procedure, since March 2016 all UN Member States can accede to it.

Features of UN Water Convention

It is a unique legally binding instrument promoting the sustainable management of shared water resources, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the prevention of conflicts, and the promotion of peace and regional integration.
It requires Parties to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, use transboundary waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management.
Parties bordering the same transboundary waters have to cooperate by entering into specific agreements and establishing joint bodies.
As a framework agreement, the Convention does not replace bilateral and multilateral agreements for specific basins or aquifers; instead, it fosters their establishment and implementation, as well as further development.

Second World Summit for Social Development, 2025

The Minister for Labour & Employment is representing India at the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD-2) held in Doha, Qatar.

About Second World Summit for Social Development, 2025:

It is a United Nations convened summit which reaffirms to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and decent work for all, and foster social inclusion.
It is designed to align with other recent global processes, such as the 2023 SDG Summit Political Declaration, the Pact of the Future and the forthcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).
History: The first World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen in March 1995.
The second World Summit for Social Development is held in Doha, Qatar.
Main Objectives of Second World Summit for Social Development 2025
Global solidarity and accelerate action on social development by assessing progress, addressing gaps.
Strengthening implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Reaffirm the 10 Commitments of the Copenhagen

Declaration

Promote equality, inclusion, and well-being for all
Strengthen global solidarity and cooperation.

State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, 2025

According to the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, 2025 land degradation affects 1.7 billion people, threatening food security and ecosystems.

About State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, 2025:

It is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
It provides the most comprehensive analysis about human-driven land degradation impacts crop yields, identifies global vulnerability hotspots, and examines where these losses intersect with poverty, hunger and other forms of malnutrition.

Key Highlights of State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report 2025

It stated that agricultural expansion remained the primary driver of global deforestation, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of forest loss.
It has reshaped global land use and transformed land-use patterns across the planet over centuries.
The largest affected populations were concentrated in eastern and southern Asia regions burdened by extensive degradation and high population density.
India had some of the highest yield gaps due to human-induced land degradation.
It highlighted that around 6 mha of croplands were abandoned annually, with land degradation likely playing a significant role in these losses.

National Social Assistance Programme

The National Social Assistance Programme is serving as a key pillar of India’s social security system through its various components and providing essential support to citizens in need.

About National Social Assistance Programme:

It was introduced in 1995 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Schemethat extends financial support to individuals living below poverty line (BPL).
Nodal Ministry: It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
It comprises five sub-schemes as its components
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
It extends financial assistance to elderly citizens aged 60 yearsand above who belong to families living below the poverty line by the Government of India.
Under this scheme, individuals between 60 and 79 yearsof age receive Rs.200 per month from the Central Government, while those aged 80 years and above are provided 500 per month.

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

Under this scheme, financial assistance is extended to widows aged between 40 and 79 yearswho belong to families living below the poverty line, as identified by the Government of India.
Each eligible beneficiary in this age group receives Rs.300 per month as central assistance. For widows who are 80 years and above, the amount of central assistance is Rs.500 per
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme
It caters individuals aged between 18 and 79 years who have severe or multiple disabilities and belong to families living below the poverty line.
The beneficiaries are eligible for central assistance of Rs.300 per month. Beneficiaries who are 80 years and above receive 500 per month.

Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) Report

The latest Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) report has stated that India achieving its vision to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047.

About Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) Report:

It is published by the World Bank.

Key highlights of the Report:

India’s financial system has become more resilient, diversified, and inclusive.
It acknowledges that financial sector reforms helped India recover from various distress episodes of the 2010s as well as the pandemic.
India's 'world class' digital public infrastructure and government programmes have significantly improved access to a wider range of financial services for men and women.
WB welcomed the scale-based regulation for NBFCs which recognises the different needs of this diverse industry.
India’s capital markets(equity, government bonds and corporate bonds) have increased from 144 percent to about 175 percent of GDP since the last Financial Sector Assessment Program.

What is the Financial Sector Assessment Program?

It is a joint program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank established in 1999.
It is a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of a country’s financial sector.
FSAPs in advanced economies are conducted with a focus on assessing the resilience of the financial sector, the quality of the regulatory and supervisory framework, and the capacity to manage and resolve financial crises.

Export Promotion Mission

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) which was announced in the Union Budget 2025–26.

About Export Promotion Mission:

It is a flagship initiative to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors.

Features of Export Promotion Mission:

It will provide a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven framework for export promotion.
Time Period and Funding:25,060 crore for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.
It marks a strategic shift from multiple fragmented schemes to a single, outcome-based, and adaptive mechanism.
Collaborative framework: It involves the Department of Commerce, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Finance, and other key stakeholders.
It consolidates key export support schemes such as the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) and Market Access Initiative (MAI), aligning them with contemporary trade needs.
Under EPM, priority support will be extended to sectors impacted by recent global tariff escalations, such as textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products.
Implementing Agency: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

Sub-schemes Under Export Promotion Mission

NIRYAT PROTSAHAN:

It focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees etc.

NIRYAT DISHA:

It focuses on non-financial enablers that enhance market readiness and competitiveness, including export quality and compliance support, assistance for international branding etc.

Electronics Development Fund

The Electronics Development Fund has played a pivotal role in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in India’s electronics and IT sectors.

About Electronics Development Fund:

It was launched by the Government of India on 15 February 2016.
It aims to promote research, development, and entrepreneurship in the fields of electronics, nano-electronics, and information technology.
It functions as a Fund of Funds, designed to invest in professionally managed Daughter Funds such as early-stage angel and venture funds.
Each Daughter Fund is required to be registered in India and comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, as Category I or Category II AIFs.

Key objectives of Electronics Development Fund

Promote Innovation and R&D: To foster research and development in electronics, nano-electronics, and information technology by supporting market-driven and industry-led innovation.
Support Daughter Funds: To invest in professionally managed Daughter Funds such as early-stage angel and venture funds that, in turn, provide capital to startups and technology ventures.
Encourage Product and Technology Development: To nurture entrepreneurship by supporting companies involved in the creation of new products, processes, and technologies within the country.
Strengthen Domestic Design Capabilities: To enhance India’s capacity for indigenous design and development in the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector.
Build a National IP Resource Pool: To generate a strong base of intellectual property in key technology areas and encourage ownership of innovation within India.
Facilitate Strategic Acquisitions: To enable acquisition of foreign technologies and companies where such products are imported in large volumes, promoting self-reliance and reducing import dependence.

Enceladus

Scientists analyzing NASA Cassini data recently identified previously unknown organic compounds in ice particles emitted from Saturn's moon Enceladus.

About Enceladus:

It is the second nearest of the major regular moons of Saturn and the brightest of all its moons.
It is Saturn's sixth-largest moon.
It was discovered in 1789 by the English astronomer William Herschel and named for one of the Giants (Gigantes) of Greek mythology.

It measures about 500 km in diameter.

It orbits Saturn in a prograde, nearly circular path at a mean distance of 238,020 km.
Enceladus is tidally locked with Saturn, keeping the same face toward the planet.
It continually spews out a concoction of water and simple organic chemicals into space.
Its surface, which reflects essentially all of the light that strikes it (compared with about 7 percent for Earth’s Moon), is basically smooth but includes cratered and grooved plains.
The surface is almost pure water ice, with trace amounts of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and light hydrocarbons.
Because Enceladus is coated in clean, highly reflective ice, it has the brightest surface of any object in our solar system.
Like other icy moons that orbit gas giants, it's thought that Enceladus maintains a liquid subsurface ocean through tidal heating.
It is one of the most promising potential sites in the solar system for hosting life.
Scientists believe Enceladus possesses the chemical ingredients needed for life and has hydrothermal vents releasing hot, mineral-rich water into its ocean, the same type of environment that may have spawned Earth’s first living organisms.

Key Facts about Cassini Spacecraft:

It is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian space agency (ASI).
Cassini was a sophisticated robotic spacecraft sent to study Saturn and its complex system of rings and moons in unprecedented detail.
It was launched on October 15, 1997. It was one of the largest interplanetary spacecraft.
The mission consisted of NASA’s Cassini orbiter, which was the first space probe to orbit Saturn, and the ESA’s Huygens probe, which landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics transforms drug therapy from a one-size-fits-all approach to precision medicine, tailoring treatments to individual genetic profiles.

About Pharmacogenomics:

It is the study of how an individual's genetic inheritance affects the body's response to drugs.
Origin of the Word: The term comes from the words pharmacology and genomics and is thus the intersection of pharmaceuticals and genetics.
It is part of the growing medical areas of genomic medicine and precision medicine(also called personalized medicine).
This is a treatment that’s personalized based on your genes, environment and lifestyle.

Pharmacogenomics is currently used in:

Oncology: Tailoring cancer therapies based on tumour genetics and patient DNA.
Cardiology: Adjusting blood thinner dosages based on genetic variants.
Psychiatry: Selecting the right antidepressant with minimal side effects.
Infectious Diseases: Predicting patient response to antiviral treatments.

Importance of Pharmacogenomics

Improving safety: It improves drug safety, enhances therapeutic outcomes, and reduces healthcare costs associated with adverse drug reactions.
Targeted drug development: Some conditions are caused by specific changes in a gene. Pharmacogenomics can help researchers discover new medications that directly target the gene change.

Interstellar Objects

Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released new images of Comet 3I/Atlas, an interstellar object that astronomers have determined is billions of years old.

About Interstellar Objects:

Interstellar objects are celestial bodies that originate outside the solar system, and travel through it.
These objects are not gravitationally bound to a star.
They can come from other solar systems and be thrown into interstellar space (the area between the stars) due to collisions or be slingshotted by a planet’s or star’s gravity.
1I/ʻOumuamua(2017), 2I/Borisov (2019) and Comet 3I/Atlas are the recently known interstellar objects.

Characteristics of Interstellar Objects:

Origin: They originate from outside our solar system, often from other star systems or the interstellar medium.
Hyperbolic Orbit: They basically move in an open-ended hyperbolic orbit, where there is a perihelion point but no aphelion.
Speed: These objects move at such great speeds that the Sun’s gravitational pull is not able to slow them down enough during their outbound leg.
Significance of Interstellar Objects:
Insights into other star systems: Interstellar objects can provide clues about the formation and evolution of other star systems.
Understanding planetary formation: They can help us understand how planets form and evolve in different environments.

Leptospirosis

Recently, Jamaica has declared an outbreak of leptospirosis following the devastation from Hurricane Melissa.

About Leptospirosis:

It is a fatal bacterial disease.
Cause: The disease is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans, or Leptospira.
The bacteria can infect humans by entering the body through tiny cracks and wounds in the soles of the feet.
Prevalence: It is more prevalent in warm, humid countries and both urban and rural areas.

Transmission of Leptospirosis

It is a contagious disease in animals but is occasionally transmitted to humans in certain environmental conditions.
The carriers of the disease can be either wild or domestic animals, including rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
The cycle of disease transmission begins with the shedding of leptospira, usually in the urine of infected animals.
Infected animals can continue to excrete the bacteria into their surroundings for a few months, but sometimes up to several years.
Leptospirosis may occur in two phases. After the first phase (symptoms: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhoea) the patient may recover for a time but become ill again.
If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis.
Treatment: It can be treated with antibiotics.

Sulphur Dioxide

An analysis of Central Electricity Authority data revealed that 15 of 35 power units in the 300-km radius of Delhi continue to operate without Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are critical for reducing sulphur dioxide emissions.

About Sulphur Dioxide:

It is a colorless gas with a pungent odor.
Properties of Sulphur Dioxide:
It is a liquid when under pressure, and it dissolves in water very easily.
It has a pungent, irritating odor, familiar as the smell of a just-struck match.

Occurrence of Sulphur Dioxide:

Sulfur dioxide in the air comes mainly from activities such as the burning of coal and oil at power plants or from copper smelting.
It is usually prepared industrially by the burning in air or oxygen of sulfur or such compounds of sulfur as iron pyrite or copper pyrite.
In nature, sulfur dioxide can be released to the air from volcanic eruptions.
The largest source of SO2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities.
Applications: It is used to manufacture chemicals, in paper pulping, in metal and food processing.
Impacts of Sulphur Dioxide: It is harmful for human health, environment and climate.

What is Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)?

It is a pollution-control process that removes Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) from the flue gases produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, especially coal.
FGD systems typically use limestone (CaCO₃), lime (CaO), or ammonia (NH₃) to react with and neutralize SO₂ in flue gases.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been named the official tournament ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The prestigious event will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026.

About:

Rohit’s selection as ambassador reflects his immense contribution to the shortest format of the game.
Two-time T20 World Cup winner – part of India’s victorious campaigns in 2007 and 2024.
Captaincy legacy – led India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024.
T20I career record – 4,231 runs, average of 32.01, strike rate of 140.89.
Influential presence – widely respected for his calm leadership and match-winning capabilities.
2007 Debut Edition: Played a key role in India’s title win. Scored a vital 50* against South Africa and 30* in the final versus Pakistan.
2024 Championship: As captain, he top-scored for India with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70, including standout knocks against Australia and England.

Strait of Malacca

A new cyclonic circulation recently developed over the central region of the Strait of Malacca, reaching an altitude of 5.8 km.

About Strait of Malacca:

It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West) Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east.
The Strait of Malacca’s name was derived from the Malacca Sultanate, who governed the archipelago from 1400 until 1511.
The strait has a width of about 890 kilometres and a depth of 25 meters.
It has an area of about 25,000 square miles (65,000 sq.km.).
The climate of the strait is hot and humid and is characterized by the northeast monsoon during the (northern) winter and the southwest monsoon during the summer.
It links the Indian and Pacific oceans and is one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.
Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia control the joint patrolling of the Malacca Strait.

Significance:

Roughly 60% of India’s seaborne trade and almost all of its LNG imports pass through the Malacca Strait.
The route is also a choke point for Chinese shipping, which makes it strategically sensitive.

Mahi River

India's Mahi River, originating in Madhya Pradesh, uniquely flows west and crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice due to a significant U-shaped loop in Rajasthan.

About Mahi River:

It is one of the major west-flowing interstate rivers of India.
It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The river is popularly described as “Mahisagar” due to its vastness.

Course:

It originates in the northern slope of the Vindhya Mountain Range in Madhya Pradesh, at an average altitude of about 500 m above mean sea level.
After its birth, the river flows in the southerly direction of Madhya Pradesh for about 120 km.
It enters the southeastern portion of Rajasthan, which is the Vagad region.
Before entering Gujarat, the river makes a `U`-shaped loop in Rajasthan.
Finally, the river surrenders itself to the Arabian Sea by a wide estuary near Khambat.
The total length of Mahi is 583 km.
The Mahi basin extends over the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, having a total area of 34,842 sq.km.
It is bounded by the Aravalli hills on the north and the northwest, by the Malwa Plateau on the east, by the Vindhyas on the south, and by the Gulf of Khambhat on the west.
The silt brought down by the Mahi River has contributed to the thinning of the Gulf of Khambat and the abandonment of its once-rich ports.
The riverbed lies considerably lower than the land level and is of little use for irrigation.
Geological Features: Rocky stretches, rapids, waterfalls, canyons, and gorges define the river’s course.
Tributaries: The Som is its principal tributary, which joins from the right, and the Anas and the Panam joins the river from the left.
Dams: Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam, Kadana Dam, and Panam Dam

Sangai Festival

Recently, the Sangai Festival in Manipur began amid a protest by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of NGOs, impacting attendance.

About Sangai Festival:

It is celebrated in the state of Manipur.
It is an annual festival, started in the year 2010, which is named after the state animal, the Sangai.
It aims to showcase Manipur’s rich cultural heritage and indigenous tradition.
The festival promotes the cultural extravaganza of Manipur through music, dance and various native art forms that are part of the Manipuri tribes and people.
The state's classical dance form, 'Ras Leela,' renowned for its distinctiveness, takes centerstage during the festival.
Theme of 2025: Where blossoms breathe harmony

Key Facts about Sangai:

It is subspecies of Eld’s deer endemic to Manipur.
It also has immense cultural relevance to Manipur.
Distribution: It is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park – the largest single mass of phumdi is in the Loktak Lake – in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.
Appearance: It is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, with extremely long brow tine, which form the main beam.