• Chairperson: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Participants: Senior officials of the Central Government, Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories
• Objective of the Conference: To promote partnership between the Centre and the States through continuous dialogue on national development priorities
• The conference focused on the theme of ‘Human Capital for a Developed India’
• Five key areas will be discussed in detail during the conference (Early Childhood, School and Higher Education and Skill Development, Sports and Extracurricular Activities)
• The conference will feature six special sessions focusing on deregulation in states; technology in governance – opportunities, risks and mitigation; AgriStack for smart supply chains and market linkages; one state, one world-class tourist destination; Atmanirbhar Bharat and indigenization; and strategies for the post-Left Wing Extremism future.
• The conference is being attended by Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, senior officials, and subject matter experts.

• Administrative control: Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs)
• Legal authority: Article 239AA

• Leadership: Police Commissioner (CP)
• Accountability: To the Central Government through the Lieutenant Governor

• Al Hind Air: It is part of the Kerala-based Al Hind Group. The airline’s primary focus is to strengthen direct air connectivity between South India (especially Kerala) and the Gulf/Middle East countries. In the initial phase, it may begin operations at a regional level.
• FlyExpress: This airline will primarily focus on connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS–UDAN). Its objective is to provide affordable air travel services to passengers from smaller cities.

Status of Somaliland (Capital: Hargeisa):

• Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991.
• It has its own army, currency, and government, but has not been internationally recognized by any country for the past three decades.

Strategic importance for Israel:

• Somaliland's geographical location in the 'Horn of Africa' is very important.
• Bab-el-Mandeb Strait: This region is crucial for global trade and maritime security.

• Somaliland:
• Capital: Hargeisa, which is also the largest city in Somaliland.
• Currency: Somaliland Shilling
• Location: On the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden
• Borders: It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east.

• The sanctioned individuals are also banned from entering China.
• The sanctioned companies include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, and Boeing's St. Louis branch.
• Last week, the US announced the sale of more than $11 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.

• The main cause of the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is the border demarcation, which is related to the ancient 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu Shiva temple and the surrounding area.
• The 1904 Franco-Siamese treaty stipulated that the border would be determined by the watershed line, which would place the temple in Thailand.
• A 1907 French map showed the temple in Cambodia, which Cambodia accepts, while Thailand claims the natural watershed line.
• In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared the temple to belong to Cambodia, but did not clarify the status of the surrounding 4.6 square kilometer area.
• This limited area became the main focus of conflict between the two countries, and in 2025, the dispute escalated into a serious military conflict.
• In 2008, UNESCO declared the Preah Vihear temple a World Heritage Site belonging to Cambodia.

• Key Team Members: R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri
• Runner-up: Triveni Continental Kings
• Location: Mumbai, December 2025
• Third Place: PBG Alaskan Knights (Gukesh Dommaraju), who defeated Ganges Grandmasters in a tie-breaker
• This is Alpine SG Pipers' first GCL title, a blockbuster win in the league's third season.

Best Player of the Tournament:

• Alireza Firouzja (Triveni Continental Kings)
• MVP: Anish Giri was chosen as the 'Most Valuable Player' (MVP) of the final.
• Venue: Royal Opera House, Mumbai

• Gujarat last included in tiger census: 1989
• Excluded from the list since 1992
• A 4-year-old tiger arrived in Ratanmahal from Madhya Pradesh in February 2025 and has been residing there permanently for 10 months.
• Camera-trap and CCTV footage convinced the NTCA.
• Next steps: Gujarat to be included in the 2026 All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), camera-trap census.
• Significance: Gujarat is now the only state with lions, leopards, and tigers. NTCA has directed the implementation of conservation measures.

Following this announcement, Gujarat has become the only state in India where these three major species of "big cats" are found naturally:

• Asiatic Lion: In the Gir forests
• Leopard: In diverse forests across the state
• Tiger: Now in Ratanmahal and bordering areas

• Tenth Guru of the Sikhs
• Founder of the Khalsa Panth: 1699 AD
• Born: December 22, 1666
• Place of Birth: Patna Sahib (Bihar)
• Died: October 7, 1708
• Place of Death: Nanded (Maharashtra)
• Father: Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Ninth Sikh Guru)
• Mother: Mata Gujri Ji
• Initiated the tradition of the Five Ks (Panj Kakkar)
• Declared Guru Granth Sahib as the sole eternal Guru of the Sikhs
• Literary Works: Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Chandi di Var, Vichitra Natak

Four Sahibzadas:

• Elder Sahibzadas: Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh
• Younger Sahibzadas: Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh
• Major Religious Sites: Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Bihar), Takht Sri Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra)

• Gold reserves increased by US$2.6 billion to US$110.3 billion.
• Foreign currency assets increased by US$1.6 billion during the week to over US$559.4 billion.
• The central bank's position with the International Monetary Fund also increased by US$95 million to US$4.78 billion, and Special Drawing Rights increased by US$8 million to US$18.74 billion.

• Prior CCO approval eliminated: Prior approval from the Coal Controller Organization (CCO) is no longer required to open a mine, a new seam, or a section.
• Company Board empowered: The Board of Directors of the concerned coal company is now authorized to approve the opening of a mine or its seams.
• Faster operations: The time taken for mine operations will be reduced by approximately 60 days.
• Reopening of closed mines: If a mine has been closed for 180 days or more, the decision to reopen it can now be taken by the Board.
• Statutory clearances mandatory: The Board's approval will only be valid if all central/state and environmental clearances have already been obtained.
• Notification to CCO: It will be mandatory to inform the CCO within 15 days of the Board's approval.
• Non-company entities: For entities not registered as companies, the old CCO-based process will continue to apply.