NATIONAL NEWS

North Tech Symposium in Prayagraj

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurateed a North Tech Symposium, on the theme ‘Raksha Triveni Sangam – Where Technology, Industry & Soldiering Converge’, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
• The symposium will serve as a vibrant platform to showcase and integrate state-of-the-art indigenous technologies to overcome operational challenges.

APPOINTMENTS

Vikram Doraiswami

• Vikram Doraiswami took the Charge of India's Ambassador to China. He succeeded Pradeep Kumar Rawat following his official appointment by the Ministry of External Affairs
• He previously served as the High Commissioner to the UK and brings extensive experience, including being a Mandarin speaker.

Mr. Praveer Kumar Srivastava

• Mr Praveer Kumar Srivastava has taken over as the Managing Director of Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL).

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Sukumar Azhikode Birth Centenary National Award

• According to a release from the Sukumar Azhikode Trust, Social activist Medha Patkar and Tamil writer Perumal Murugan have been selected for the Sukumar Azhikode Birth Centenary National Award.

ECONOMY & BANKING

BEL, Metamind and Kristellar sign MoU

• Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Metamind Systems Private Limited and Kristellar Aerospace Private Limited signed a tripartite MoU in Bengaluru for co-operation and co-development of future-ready products and technologies in the areas of [BEL LICCO1] Cyber Security, Electronic Warfare &Avionics, Semiconductors, Data Centre, etc, for both Defence and Non-Defence segments.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

PERSON IN NEWS

Nick Stewart

• The White House has confirmed that Nick Stewart has been appointed as an adviser to the diplomatic team working to end the ongoing conflict with Iran.
• Stewart joins the delegation led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, with his appointment facilitated by Jared Kushner.

ART & CULTURE

Icons of India

• The Madame Tussauds has launched a new “Icons of India” exhibition at its London headquarters, uniting the wax models of celebrities from the world of cinema and cricket.

ENVIRONMENT + SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Mission Drishti

• The Bengaluru-based space start-up GalaxEye successfully launched Mission Drishti and was carried into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.

Key Highlights

AIIMS develops breakthrough surgical technique for severe spinal deformities

• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS, has developed a new surgical technique that is being seen as a major breakthrough in treating severe spinal deformities.
• The technique is a modified version of a complex spine surgery known as posterior vertebral column resection. It was first described in an international scientific publication in 2020.

Govt Releases Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus

• The government has released the Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children. The Document was released at the recently concluded National Summit on Best Practices in Public Healthcare Service Delivery.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines which has broaden the established 4Ds approach – Defects at Birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Developmental Delays.
• It also incorporated new-age health challenges, including non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, and behavioural concerns. RBSK 2.0 now takes a more comprehensive, lifecycle-based approach, focusing on the health of children from birth up to 18 years.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

Mayon Volcano erupted

• Mayon Volcano in the Philippines is actively eruped at Alert Level 3, indicating high levels of magmatic activity and the potential for a hazardous explosive eruption within days or weeks.

Volcano

DEFENCE NEWS

CINBAX-II 2026

• The second edition of the India-Cambodia Bilateral Military Exercise, CINBAX-II 2026, commenced at at the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Prov Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre in Kampong Speu Province.
• Concentrates on company-level joint training for sub-conventional operations under UN Mandate Chapter VII and focused onTraining focuses on counter-terrorism, drone operations, and hostage rescue in semi-urban settings.

Mazor Indian Military Exercise with Countries

SPORTS

Madrid Open 2026

• Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk won her first WTA 1000 title at the 2026 Madrid Open, defeating Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in the final.