Defence and Aerospace:

• C-295 Aircraft: India's first indigenous C-295 military transport aircraft. Currently, 40 more such aircraft are being manufactured in the country, boosting the MSME and aerospace sectors.
• Indigenous Warships (Kolkata): Three fully indigenous warships were launched in Kolkata, named—Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, and Agray.
• Long-range Cruise Missile: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the industry, has successfully tested a long-range cruise missile for land-based strikes.

Sports and Awards:

• World Yogasana Championship: India topped the medal tally at this championship held in Ahmedabad, winning a total of 114 medals, including 102 gold.
• Nagaland Baby League: A unique initiative launched to engage children aged 5 to 12 in football; it has completed three years of operation.
• Nagaland Futsal League: Futsal is also known as 'indoor football'. Each team consists of 5 players, and the game is played on a smaller court. A women's futsal league is also being organized under this initiative in Nagaland.

Government Insurance Schemes:

• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY):
• Annual Premium: Only ₹20
• Insurance Coverage: Accident insurance of up to ₹2 lakh
• Beneficiary Statistics: Over 58 crore people have enrolled so far (including 28 crore women). Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY):
• Annual Premium: ₹436
• Insurance Coverage: Life insurance of up to ₹2 lakh for the family in the event of death.
• Beneficiary Statistics: Over 27 crore people have enrolled so far.

Environment, Culture, and Heritage:

• Hargila Army (Assam): Biologist Purnima Devi Barman, together with local women, formed the 'Hargila Army' to conserve the rare Hargila bird (Greater Adjutant Stork), which was previously considered 'inauspicious' in Assam. This bird helps keep the environment clean.
• Living Root Bridges (Meghalaya): An application has been submitted to include these living bridges—formed from the roots of rubber trees—in the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.
• Haili War (Meghalaya): Individuals responsible for maintaining these root bridges for over 50 years have been honored with the Padma Award.
• Eco-Brick Initiative: Women from Biaora in the Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh demonstrated a successful model of recycling plastic waste into 'Eco-Bricks' (environment-friendly bricks).

Education and Research:

• Nalanda University (Bihar): The ancient Indian tradition of 'Shastrarth' (intellectual debate and discourse) has been revived here.
• Central Sanskrit University (Delhi): Bridging traditional knowledge with modern technology, this university is launching B.Tech programs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science.
• Vedic Studies in the Dominican Republic: A team of Spanish speakers in the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic is studying Vedic literature and learning the precise pronunciation of Vedic mantras (such as Purusha Suktam and Sri Suktam).

National Campaigns and Social Messages:

• Catch the Rain: A nationwide campaign launched to promote rainwater harvesting during the monsoon season. Eco-friendly Ganesh Utsav: The Prime Minister has appealed for the use of clay idols made by local potters instead of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols during the upcoming Ganesh Utsav.

'Mann Ki Baat' Programme:

• Inception: 3 October 2014
• Second broadcast: 2 November 2014
• US President Barack Obama also joined him in the programme in January 2015
• 100th episode broadcast: 30 April 2023

• Event: Bharat Buildcon 2026 (2nd Edition)
• Venue: Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi
• Theme: "One Nation, One Expo"
• Co-inaugurators: Jitin Prasada (Minister of State, Commerce and Industry) and Parshottam Rupala (MP)
• Collaborating Organizations: The event was organized in collaboration with CAPEXIL (Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• Bharat Taxi: It is the country's first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform (similar to Ola and Uber).
• The Bharat Taxi scheme will be operational in 500 major cities across the country over the next two years.
• Bharat Taxi is the nation's first cooperative-based public transport scheme wherein drivers operate their own vehicles to provide commuting services to the public.
• This scheme is being implemented with the collaboration of the Central Government and various other agencies.
• Cities where the scheme is planned to be launched on a priority basis include Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kolkata.

Ministry of Cooperation:

• Formation of the Ministry: The Government of India constituted a separate 'Ministry of Cooperation' in July 2021. Its core vision is 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' (Prosperity through Cooperation).
• First Minister: Amit Shah is the first and current Minister of this ministry.
• Constitutional Provisions: Cooperative societies are mentioned in Part IXB of the Indian Constitution, which was added via the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011. Additionally, Article 43B (Directive Principles of State Policy - DPSP) also pertains to the promotion of cooperative societies.

• Manufacturer: This high-speed Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) has been built entirely indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
• Speed ​​and Capability: The vessel is capable of achieving speeds exceeding 30 knots, making it suitable for rapid response during maritime emergencies.
• Primary Functions: It is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for coastal surveillance, maritime patrolling, search and rescue operations, and maritime law enforcement.
• Additional Development Assistance: During this visit, alongside the FPV, India also gifted 6 ambulances, 10 utility vehicles, and 5 Laser Radial boats to Seychelles to strengthen disaster management and health infrastructure.

Security of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):

• The EEZ spans approximately 1.3 million square kilometers. The 'PS LESPWAR' will significantly boost the Seychelles Coast Guard's capability to monitor this vast maritime area and tackle challenges such as poaching, piracy, and drug trafficking.

Seychelles:

• An incredibly beautiful island nation comprising 115 islands located in the Indian Ocean.
• It is part of the African continent and is the smallest country in Africa in terms of both area and population.
• Capital: Victoria (located on Mahé Island; it is one of the smallest capitals in the world).
• Currency: Seychellois Rupee (SCR).
• Official Languages: Seychellois Creole (a French-based creole language), English, and French.
• Location: Situated in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and approximately 1,500 kilometers east of the African mainland (Kenya).
• Coco de Mer: This unique coconut is found only on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in Seychelles; it produces the world's largest and heaviest seed (weighing approximately 15 to 30 kilograms).
• Giant Tortoises: Seychelles' 'Aldabra Atoll' is home to the world's largest tortoises.

• First step towards peace: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as the foundation for a comprehensive peace agreement and a significant milestone for lasting security.
• Signatories: Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon's Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, signed the agreement in Washington following four days of intensive negotiations.
• US financial and humanitarian aid: The US announced $100 million in emergency humanitarian aid for Lebanon (in collaboration with the UN) and $30 million to strengthen and enhance the capabilities of the Lebanese Army.

Israel:

• Capital: Jerusalem
• Parliament Name: Knesset
• Currency: New Shekel (ILS)
• National Language: Hebrew
• Intelligence Agency: Mossad
• Neighboring Countries: Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest.
• Maritime Borders: Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) to the south.

Major Water Body:

• Dead Sea: It is the lowest point on Earth, situated on the border between Israel and Jordan. Due to its extreme salinity, humans do not sink in it. Sea of ​​Galilee: It is Israel's largest freshwater lake.

Lebanon:

• A major Middle Eastern country located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Western Asia.
• Capital: Beirut
• Currency: Lebanese Pound (LBP)
• President: Must always be a Maronite Christian (Current: Joseph Aoun)
• Prime Minister: Must always be a Sunni Muslim (Current: Nawaf Salam)
• Speaker of Parliament: Must always be a Shia Muslim (Current: Nabih Berri)
• Parliament: It has a total of 128 seats, divided between Christians and Muslims in a 50:50 ratio.
• Major River: Litani River

• It is a key institution dedicated to implementing eco-friendly economic reforms and climate goals.
• Its primary objective is to mobilize climate finance, encourage private investment, and guide developing countries toward a path of zero-carbon emissions.
• Chairmanship: The board is chaired by N.K. Singh, former Chairman of the Finance Commission.
• Secretariat: Its secretariat has been established at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Middle East.

• Winner: The Hindu Group secured the top spot by winning a total of 7 awards in the competition.
• Basis of the Award: The 'Champion Publisher of the Year' title is awarded to the publisher that secures the highest number of wins or points in the annual awards.
• Key Wins for The Hindu Group:
• Gold Medal: For 'Bihar SIR' in the 'Best AI-driven News Product, Format, or Strategy' category.
• Gold Medal: For 'Young World Club' in the 'Best News Website or App Relaunch' category.
• Silver Medal: For the 'Written by Journalists' campaign in the 'Best in Combating Misinformation' category.

WAN-IFRA:

• Full Name: World Association of News Publishers
• Nature: It is the largest international non-governmental organization (NGO) representing news media and the press worldwide.
• Established: 1948
• Headquarters: Its main offices are located in Paris (France) and Frankfurt (Germany).
• The Hindu: It is one of India's most prestigious English-language newspapers. It was founded on September 20, 1878, as a weekly and became a daily newspaper in 1889. G. Subramania Iyer was a prominent figure among its founders.

• Name of the award: ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’
• What it is: Seychelles' highest environmental honor
• Recipient: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Reason for the award: This award was conferred upon Prime Minister Modi for his visionary leadership in environmental conservation on a global scale, the fight against climate change, and the promotion of maritime security and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Other Important Facts:

• PM Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to address the National Assembly of Seychelles.
• Modi has received three major awards in the field of environment so far.
• In May 2016, the United Nations agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), honored him with the Agricola Medal.
• In 2018, the United Nations conferred its highest environmental honor, the 'Champions of the Earth Award', upon Prime Minister Modi.
• India has announced an economic package of US$ 175 million (₹1,651 crore) to strengthen development and infrastructure in Seychelles.

Signing of New Agreements:

• Extradition Treaty: Agreement to strengthen security and law and order.
• Healthcare: India will assist in constructing a national hospital in Seychelles.
• Space and Agriculture: Both nations have also joined hands in the fields of space exploration and agriculture. PM Modi planted a Coco de Mer plant.
• The Coco de Mer plant and its fruit are found naturally only in Seychelles.
• The seed found inside its fruit is considered the world's largest and heaviest seed.
• Coco de Mer trees are dioecious, meaning the male and female trees are separate.
• Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Seychelles in 1976.
• Indira Gandhi visited Seychelles again in 1981.

• Current and New Role: Prior to this appointment, he served as the Associate Director (Research & Development) at VSSC. He will now head this premier centre, which is responsible for developing India's launch vehicle technology.
• Expertise: He possesses decades of extensive experience in the field of rocket control and guidance systems. He has led the design and mission simulation for several of ISRO's historic and major launch vehicle missions.
• Hometown and Education: He hails from Pathanapuram in the Kollam district of Kerala. He completed his undergraduate studies at the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram (CET), his postgraduate studies at NIT Calicut, and obtained his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC):

• What is it? It is the largest and primary technical centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where technologies related to rockets, launch vehicles (such as PSLV, GSLV, LVM3), and artificial satellites are developed.
• Headquarters/Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• Establishment: 21 November 1963 (Initially known as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station - TERLS)
• Naming: It was named 'Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre' in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme.

• Gold Medals: 7
• Silver Medals: 8
• Bronze Medals: 10
• Total Medals: 25

Key Gold Medalists and Events:

• Sejal Kamble: Won the first gold in the 10m Air Pistol Junior Women (Individual) event
• Sameer: ​​25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior Men event
• Rohit Kanyan: 50m Rifle 3-Position Junior Men event
• Pritam Kendre: 10m Air Rifle Junior Men event
• Abhinav Deshwal: 25m Standard Pistol Junior Men event
• Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar and Abhinav Shaw: 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Junior event
• Women's Team (Sejal, Vanshika, Navya): 10m Air Pistol Junior Women's Team event

Global Ranking and Performance:

• First Place: India (25 medals)
• Second Place: Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) — 14 medals (6 gold)
• Third Place: Italy — 10 medals (6 gold)
• Venue: Suhl, Germany.
• Governing Body: International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
• National Support: Indian athletes are managed by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
• Previous Record: India had previously topped the medal tally at the last edition held in Lima, Peru, by winning 24 medals.

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):

• Established: 1907
• Headquarters: Munich, Germany
• President: Luciano Rossi