Current Context: In 2025, Bangladesh became the 54th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, signaling its commitment to peaceful and cooperative space exploration.

About

• Launched in October 2020 by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and 8 founding nations, based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
• Aim: Promote responsible, transparent, and peaceful outer space activities.

Key Principles:

• Peaceful Exploration under international law, Transparency in scientific activities, Interoperability of space systems,Emergency Assistance to astronauts, Registration of space objects, Preservation of lunar heritage sites, Use of Space Resources for sustainability, Deconfliction to avoid interference& Orbital Debris Management

Significance for Bangladesh:

• Marks Bangladesh’s entry into global space diplomacy
• Opens doors for collaboration with NASA and Artemis member countries
• Encourages investment in space research and technology

Current Context: India flagged off its first all-women tri-service sailing expedition – Samudra Pradakshina – from Mumbai, promoting Nari Shakti in the Armed Forces.

Key Highlights:

• Expedition Name: Samudra Pradakshina
• Vessel: IASV Triveni (Indian Army Sailing Vessel)
• Flagged Off By: Gen. AK Ramesh, Commandant, College of Military Engineering (CME)
• Location: Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), Colaba, Mumbai
• Crew: 12 women personnel from Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force
• Training: At Army Adventure Nodal Centre (AANC) for Blue Water Sailing, Marve, Mumbai
• Route: Mumbai → Seychelles → Mumbai
• Distance & Duration: 4,000 nautical miles in 55 days
• Purpose: Promote women empowerment (Nari Shakti) in the Armed Forces

Current Context: The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) have launched Phase 2 of the “Niveshak Didi” initiative to improve financial literacy among women in rural and underserved areas of India.

Key Facts:

• The Niveshak Didi initiative empowers women postal workers and community leaders to act as grassroots financial educators, promoting awareness on savings, investments, fraud prevention, and digital banking.
• Phase 1 reached 55,000+ participants, 60% from rural areas.
• Phase 2 targets 4,000+ camps led by 40,000 trained women.
• IEPFA (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority) supports the initiative to enhance responsible financial behavior and inclusion across communities.

Current Context: The Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric & Climate Centre was inaugurated on 25th March 2025 in Nathatop, Jammu & Kashmir to boost high-altitude climate research.

Key Facts:

• Location: Nathatop, Udhampur (Altitude: 2,250 m) – ideal for clean-air atmospheric studies.
• Led by: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), with Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Forest Department & Central University of Jammu (CUJ).
• Goal: Accurate weather forecasting, climate modelling, and aerosol-cloud interaction research.
• Project ICE-CRUNCH: Indian and Swiss Collaboration for Exploring Cloud Nucleating Characteristics.
• Global Link: Part of World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Programme.
• Capacity Building: Will train young scientists and students in atmospheric sciences.

Current Context: The Delhi government is set to announce its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2.0, aimed at phasing out CNG-driven autorickshaws and fossil fuel vehicles, reflecting a commitment to reducing air pollution.

Key Facts:

• CNG Autorickshaws: No new CNG autorickshaw registrations from August 15, 2025; existing permits will not be renewed, and CNG autorickshaws over 10 years old must be replaced or retrofitted with electric batteries.
• Waste Collection Vehicles: Fossil fuel-driven garbage collection vehicles will be phased out, with a target for a 100% electric fleet by December 31, 2027.
• Public Transport Buses: Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) will only procure electric buses for intra-city services. Inter-state buses must meet BS VI emission standards.
• Two-Wheelers & Goods Carriers: Ban on petrol, diesel, and CNG two-wheelers from August 15, 2026, and no petrol or diesel three-wheeler registrations for goods carriers from August 15, 2025.
• Private Vehicle Guidelines: Private car owners can only purchase electric vehicles if they already own two vehicles, encouraging adoption of electric vehicles.
• Timeline: The current EV policy has been extended for 15 days post its expiration on March 31, 2025, pending approval from the Delhi Cabinet.

Current Context: The 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics recognized 13,508 physicists from four CERN projects for advancements in life sciences, mathematics, and fundamental physics, announced on April 5, 2025.

Key Facts:

• Breakthrough Prize History: Established in 2013 by Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, and Yuri & Julia Milner, to honor scientific achievements and promote global scientific progress.
• Life Sciences Prize: Awarded for developing weight-loss drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy), understanding the link between Multiple Sclerosis and Epstein-Barr virus, and advancing gene-editing technologies.
• Fundamental Physics Prize: Recognized four CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) for their research on the Higgs boson and mass generation, significantly advancing the understanding of fundamental particles.
• Mathematics Prize: Dennis Gaitsgory awarded for his groundbreaking work on the geometric Langlands conjecture, bridging multiple areas of mathematics.

Current Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched a revamped Microdata Portal to enhance data accessibility and user experience. The new portal integrates advanced technologies, aiming to improve the Official Statistical System in India.

Key Facts:

• Objective: Overcomes technological limitations of the previous portal, facilitating easier access to national surveys and economic censuses data for better planning and policy-making.
• AI/ML Tool: Introduced a tool using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)to classify National Industrial Classification (NIC) codes, improving accuracy and reducing manual effort.
• Collaboration with World Bank: The portal was developed with the World Bank Technology Team, adopting scalable technology and modern security standards.
• Training Academy: Launched the National Statistical System Training Academy website to centralize capacity-building resources and promote skill development.
• Impact on Policy: By improving data accessibility, the portal will support data-driven policy-making, contributing to the goal of Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

Current Context: The Digital Threat Report 2024 was launched as a joint initiative by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Computer Security Incident Response Team for the Financial Sector (CSIRT-Fin), and global cybersecurity firm SISA, focusing on strengthening cyber resilience in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.

About

• Released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Department of Financial Services (DFS), in collaboration with CERT-In and SISA.
• Analyses current and emerging cyber threats, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven attacks and systemic vulnerabilities.
• Based on inputs from forensic investigations, incident response teams, and real-time cyber intelligence.

Key Highlights

• Digital payments in India projected to touch USD 3.1 trillion by 2028, accounting for 35% of total banking revenues.
• The report underscores cybersecurity as the foundation of financial stability in the digital era.
• Promotes sector-wide collaboration, intelligence-sharing, and proactive response mechanisms.
• Identifies key attack vectors, gaps in security posture, and provides actionable recommendations for BFSI institutions.

Current Context: India will commission INS Varsha near Rambilli, Andhra Pradesh by 2026 to bolster nuclear submarine operations amid rising Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

About

• Nuclear submarine base (SSBNs & SSNs)
• Located ~50 km from Visakhapatnam

Features:

• Underground submarine pens for stealth
• Advanced docking, repair yards, munitions storage
• Command and control systems

Strategic Significance

• Enhances nuclear deterrence and maritime security
• Segregates military/naval operations from civilian ports
• Counters China’s influence in the Bay of Bengal
• Boosts India’s role in the Indo-Pacific & Quad cooperation

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a Dokra Brass Peacock Boat with a Tribal Rider to the Prime Minister of Thailand during his visit, highlighting India’s rich tribal art traditions.

About

• Ancient Craft: Over 4,000 years old, with roots tracing back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Example: The iconic “Dancing Girl” sculpture from Mohenjo-daro is made using the same technique.
• Name Origin: Derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes of West Bengal.

Technique Used:

• Lost-Wax Casting (also called Cire Perdue).
• The mold is used only once and destroyed, making each piece unique.
• Materials Used: Mainly brass and other non-ferrous metals.
• Themes: Tribal motifs, animals, deities, and rural life scenes.
• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:Granted in 2008 to Dokra of Bankura, West Bengal.