• This initiative is part of the Government of India's new 'hub-and-spoke' aviation model, under which Varanasi has become the country's first 'spoke' city.
• Operations: It is being operated by the national carrier, Air India; the inaugural flight, AI-1111, departed from Varanasi for Delhi.
• Expansion Plan: The government plans to include six more airports in this model within the next six weeks.

• Organizing Ministry: This meeting is being organized by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
• Main Theme of BRICS Presidency 2026: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability."

BRICS:

• It is an international group comprising the world's major emerging economies.
• Initially, it consisted of only four countries—Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• Origin of the term 'BRIC': In 2001, British economist Jim O'Neill coined the term 'BRIC' to highlight the rapidly growing economic influence of these four economies.
• First Summit: The first formal meeting of the leaders of BRIC nations took place on June 16, 2009, in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• Inclusion of South Africa (2010): South Africa was admitted to the group in December 2010, after which it was renamed BRICS. South Africa participated for the first time in the 2011 Sanya (China) Summit.
• Historic Expansion (2024): New countries received official membership in BRICS starting January 1, 2024.
• Currently, there are a total of 11 permanent member countries in BRICS.

• Host Country and Institution: Under India's chairmanship, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) organized the event in Bengaluru (at ISRO Headquarters).
• Participating Countries: Representatives and heads of space agencies from BRICS' expanded member nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE—participated in the meeting.
• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, proposed the concept of a "BRICS Space Economy" as the next frontier of global development.
• He called upon BRICS nations to move beyond mere coordination and advance towards co-development, co-innovation, and co-creation.

• This book chronicles Group Captain Shukla's journey from fighter pilot to astronaut and his historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
• It provides detailed information on astronaut selection, rigorous training, mission preparation, and life in space.
• The event also marked the first anniversary of Group Captain Shukla's historic Axiom-4 mission, which was launched on June 25 of the previous year.

Axiom-4 Mission:

• It is the fourth fully private and commercial human spaceflight mission conducted for the International Space Station (ISS).
• It was successfully organized by the American company Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
• Launch Date: June 25, 2025
• Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA)
• Duration: The astronaut crew completed a historic 18-day journey in space and returned safely to Earth in July 2025.
• Rocket (Launch Vehicle): Reusable Falcon 9 rocket

International Crew:

• Peggy Whitson, USA: Mission Commander (Former NASA astronaut and current Axiom Space member)
• Shubhanshu Shukla, India: Mission Pilot (Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO Gagannaut)
• Sławosz Uznański, Poland: Mission Specialist (European Space Agency - ESA)
• Tibor Kapu, Hungary: Mission Specialist (Hungarian Space Office)

• Author: This book is authored by Shri Nabam Rebia, former Rajya Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh.
• Co-author: Shri Sandeep Kumar is the co-author.

• India has declared a national emergency three times so far.
• First: From 1962 to 1968, during the India-China War.
• Second: During the India-Pakistan War of 1971.
• Third: From 1975 to 1977, due to political instability.

Types of Emergency:

National Emergency, Article 352:

• Imposed in situations of war, external aggression, or armed rebellion. (Previously, 'internal disturbance' was a ground, which was replaced by 'armed rebellion' via the 44th Constitutional Amendment.)
• Basis of declaration: The President can declare it only upon the written recommendation of the Cabinet (added by the 44th Amendment).
• Parliamentary approval: It must be approved by both Houses of Parliament with a special majority within one month of the proclamation.
• Duration: Once approved, it remains in force for 6 months. It can be extended indefinitely with Parliamentary approval (renewed every 6 months).

Impact:

• The Central Government can issue executive directives to states on any matter.
• Parliament gains the authority to legislate on subjects listed in the State List.
• Impact on Fundamental Rights: Under Article 358, Article 19 is automatically suspended (only during an external emergency). Under Article 359, the President can suspend other Fundamental Rights, but Articles 20 and 21 can never be suspended.

President's Rule, Article 356:

• Imposed upon the failure of the constitutional machinery in a state. It is also known as Constitutional Emergency. Basis for Proclamation: When a state government cannot function in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The President can invoke this based on a report from the Governor or even without one.
• Parliamentary Approval: It requires approval by Parliament via a simple majority within two months.
• Duration: It remains in force for six months at a time and can be extended up to a maximum of three years (extensions beyond one year require specific conditions).
• Effect: The State Council of Ministers is dissolved, and the President administers the state through the Governor. Parliament enacts laws for the state.

Financial Emergency, Article 360:

• Imposed when the financial stability or credit of India or any part thereof is threatened.
• Parliamentary Approval: Requires approval by Parliament via a simple majority within two months of its issuance.
• Duration: No maximum duration is fixed. Once approved by Parliament, it remains in force until revoked by the President.
• Effect: The President can direct states to observe canons of financial propriety. Salaries and allowances of persons serving the Union or the States—including judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts—may be reduced.
• Note: A financial emergency has never been imposed in India to date.

Emergency Provisions in the Constitution (Articles 352–360):

• Article 352: Proclamation of Emergency (National Emergency)
• Article 353: Effect of Proclamation of Emergency
• Article 354: Application of provisions relating to the distribution of revenues while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation
• Article 355: Duty of the Union to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance
• Article 356: Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in states (President's Rule)
• Article 357: Exercise of legislative powers during a Proclamation issued under Article 356
• Article 358: Suspension of the provisions of Article 19 during an emergency
• Article 359: Suspension of the enforcement of rights conferred by Part III during an emergency
• Article 360: Provisions regarding Financial Emergency.

• Full Name: Fédération Internationale de Football Association
• Founded: May 21, 1904 (in Paris, France)
• Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
• Current President: Gianni Infantino
• Regional Associations: 6 regional continental confederations
• AFC - Asian Football Confederation (India is a member)
• UEFA - Union of European Football Associations
• CONMEBOL - South American Football Confederation
• CAF - Confederation of African Football
• CONCACAF - Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
• OFC - Oceania Football Confederation

Major Tournaments Organized by FIFA:

• FIFA Men's World Cup: This is the biggest football event, held every 4 years. The first World Cup was played in Uruguay in 1930.
• FIFA Women's World Cup: It began in 1991.

India and FIFA:

• All India Football Federation (AIFF): Football in India is governed by the AIFF. It was established in 1937.
• FIFA Membership: India (AIFF) received official FIFA membership in 1948.
• Historic Moments: India successfully hosted the FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup in 2017 and the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2022.

• A global inter-governmental alliance formed under India's leadership for the conservation of seven major big cat species.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced it on April 9, 2023, to mark the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger.
• The alliance was officially established as a treaty-based international legal entity in January 2025.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Nodal Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
• Financial Support: The Government of India has approved budgetary support of ₹150 crore for its initial five years (2023-24 to 2027-28).
• When India proposed this international alliance on the global stage, it committed—as the "anchor country"—to striving to ensure total financial/grant assistance of US$ 100 million (approximately over ₹830 crore) over the first five years to support its various global campaigns and operations.
• Focus Species (7 Big Cats): Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• India is the natural or re-introduced habitat for 5 of these 7 species (Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah). Jaguars and Pumas are not naturally found in India. Saudi Arabia will utilize this platform for the conservation of the critically endangered 'Arabian Leopard'.

• Interval of just 39 seconds: The first tremor measured 7.2 in magnitude. Exactly 39 seconds later, the main earthquake, measuring 7.5, occurred.
• Epicentre: According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was located near the towns of Morón and Yumare in Yaracuy state, west of the capital, Caracas.
• Historic Event: This is the most powerful earthquake recorded in Venezuela's coastal region since 1900.
• Damage: Hundreds of buildings collapsed; internet and power services were disrupted in areas housing major oil refineries; and the 'Simón Bolívar International Airport' was shut down due to severe damage.
• Regional Impact: Tremors were felt as far as 1,700 km away—reaching the Amazon region of Brazil and Bogotá, the capital of neighboring Colombia.

Venezuela:

• A prominent and historic country located at the northern tip of the South American continent.
• Capital: Caracas
• Geographical Boundaries: It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north; Colombia to the west; Brazil to the south; and Guyana to the east.
• Angel Falls: The world's highest waterfall, with a height of 979 meters. It is located on the Churún River within Venezuela's 'Canaima National Park'.
• Orinoco River: One of South America's longest river systems, serving as a lifeline for the country's hydrology and environment.
• Lake Maracaibo: One of South America's largest lakes, with vast oil reserves located beneath it.
• Currency: Venezuelan Bolívar Soberano (VES)

• Subject: Kashmiri Sufiyana music (encompassing both 'Sufiyana Kalam' and 'Sufiyana Mausiqi')
• Category of Request: UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
• Historical Context: Sufiyana music is believed to have originated between the 14th and 15th centuries. It represents a unique confluence of Sufi mysticism and musical traditions that existed in Kashmir prior to the advent of Islam.
• Musical Instruments: The 'Santoor' is the primary instrument used in this genre. Additionally, instruments such as the 'Saz-e-Kashmir', 'Sitar', and 'Tabla' are also employed.
• 'Maqam' System: This music is based on the 'Maqam' system, similar to the 'Ragas' of Indian classical music. It involves the singing of Persian and Kashmiri poetry ('Kalam').

• This two-day festival attracts thousands of devotees, tourists, culture enthusiasts, and Buddhist scholars from India and abroad.
• Hemis Monastery:
• Geographical Location: This picturesque monastery is situated approximately 45 kilometers from Leh, along the banks of the Indus River and near Hemis National Park (famous for snow leopards).
• Sect: It is the principal and most important center of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Establishment and History: The history of this *gompa* (monastery) dates back to the 11th century, but it was revived and restored in 1672 AD under the patronage of the Ladakhi King Sengge Namgyal.
• Ladakh's Wealthiest Monastery: Having remained safe from historical invasions due to its secluded geographical location, Hemis is considered the largest and wealthiest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh.

What is Youth Co:Lab?

• Co-founders: It was jointly established in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation.
• Launch in India: It was launched in India in 2019 in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog.
• Objective: To empower and invest in youth across Asia-Pacific countries, enabling them to lead social innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 (8th Edition):

• Organizers: UNDP India and Citi Foundation, in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog).
• Implementation Partner: T-Hub Foundation, Hyderabad.
• Key Theme/Focus: This edition focused entirely on responsible consumption and eco-friendly innovations, aligning with the Government of India's 'Mission LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment).