Current Context: India has announced training and equipment support to upgrade Fiji’s maritime security.

ABOUT FIJI

• Location: South Pacific Ocean, surrounding the Koro Sea; northeast of New Zealand and southwest of Hawaii.
• Type: Island nation (archipelago).
• Islands: 300 islands + 540 islets (only ~100 inhabited).
• Capital: Suva, located on the largest island Viti Levu.
• Geography:
  • Viti Levu accounts for half of Fiji’s land area.
  • Rugged terrain with Mount Tomanivi (1,324 m) as the highest peak.
  • Formed through volcanic activity, sedimentary deposits, and coral formations.
  • 50% area forested; dry grasslands in western large islands.
• Demography: Majority Melanesian-Polynesian, with significant South Asian minority.
• Languages: English (official), Fijian.
• Currency: Fiji Dollar.

Current Context: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has invited nominations for the National Youth Award (NYA) 2024.

ABOUT NATIONAL YOUTH AWARD

• Ministry: Sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
• Purpose:
  • To recognize and motivate Indian youth for their outstanding work in social service and national development.
  • To encourage responsibility, leadership, and citizenship among youth.
  • To honor voluntary organizations working with youth.
• Eligibility: Individuals aged 15–29 years and organizations involved in youth-centric development activities (health, culture, sports, human rights, art, tourism, traditional medicine, research, etc.).
• Award Categories:
  • Individual Category – Up to 20 awards annually.
  • Organisation Category – Up to 5 awards annually.
• Prize Money:
  • Individual: ₹1,00,000 + Medal + Certificate.
  • Organisation: ₹3,00,000 + Medal + Certificate.
• Ceremony: Conferred usually during the National Youth Festival.

Current Context: China has agreed in principle to resume trade through Shipki-La Pass in Himachal Pradesh after Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India.

ABOUT SHIPKI-LA PASS

• Altitude: 3,930 metres.
• Location: Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh; border pass between India and China.
• Features:
  • Motorable pass, one of the highest in India.
  • Sutlej River (Langqen Zangbo in Tibet) enters India here.
  • Historically a major India–Tibet trade corridor.
• History:
  • Earlier called Pema La or Shared Gate/Pass.
  • Became part of Line of Actual Control (post-1962 war).
  • Named Shipki La by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• Significance:
  • Boosts tourism and trade in border districts (Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti).
  • Aims to promote economic growth along the 240-km India–China frontier.

Current Context: The Indian Army conducted the maiden Exercise Aarogya Setu at Rupai, Doomdooma, in Tinsukia district, Assam.

ABOUT EXERCISE AAROGYA SETU

• Organised by: Indian Army
• Venue: Rupai, Doomdooma, Tinsukia district, Assam.
• Type: Civil–military medical fusion exercise (first-of-its-kind in the region).
• Participants:
  • Army Medical Corps.
  • Civil doctors from reputed hospitals.
  • Primary Health Centres (PHCs) of Tinsukia.
  • Northern Frontier Railway Hospital doctors.
• Focus Areas:
  • Joint response during disasters and war-like situations.
  • Train ambulances concept for large-scale casualty evacuation.
  • Strengthening cooperation between military and civilian medical systems.

Current Context: India issued a flood warning to Pakistan about a possible rise in Tawi River water levels, calling it a “humanitarian gesture”.

KEY FACTS

• Communication Channel: Through diplomatic channels, not via the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
• Background: IWT remains suspended after the Pahalgam attack.

ABOUT TAWI RIVER

• Origin: Kailash Kund (Kali Kund) glacier, near Bhaderwah in Doda district, J&K.
• Tributary: Left-bank tributary of Chenab River.
• Importance: Known as the “Lifeline of Jammu city”.

Current Context: The Government of India and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced a collaboration to address the global hunger crisis.

ABOUT WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP)

• Nature: World’s largest humanitarian organisation working on food security.
• Functions:
  • Provides food assistance in emergencies.
  • Helps people recover from conflicts, disasters, and climate change.
  • Builds pathways towards peace, stability, and prosperity.
• Operations: Active in 120+ countries, including India.
• Recognition: Awarded Nobel Peace Prize (2020).

Current Context: Indian shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won gold at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

EVENT DETAILS

• Event: Men’s 50m Rifle 3-Position
• Venue: Shymkent, Kazakhstan
• Competition: 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025

RESULTS

• Gold: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (India) – 462.5 points
• Silver: Wenyu Zhao (China) – 462 points
• Bronze: Naoya Okada (Japan) – 445.8 points

Current Context: Former CRPF chief Anish Dayal Singh has been appointed as the new Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) to PM Narendra Modi.

ABOUT ANISH DAYAL SINGH

• Batch / Cadre: 1988-batch IPS officer, Manipur cadre
• Born: 1964, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
• Training: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad
• Career Path:
  • Early service in Manipur – handled insurgency challenges.
  • Intelligence Bureau (IB) – worked in strategic intelligence roles.
  • Director General, CRPF – strengthened internal security and counter-insurgency.
  • Deputy NSA – appointed in 2025, reporting directly to NSA Ajit Doval.

Current Context: The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) released the Smart City Index 2025, ranking the world’s smartest cities.

 ABOUT SMART CITY INDEX

• Released by: International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Switzerland
• Definition of Smart City (IMD): An urban setting that applies technology to enhance benefits and mitigate drawbacks of urbanisation for citizens.
• Ranking Parameters: Health and Safety, Mobility, Activities, Opportunities, Governance

 IMD TOP SMART CITIES (2025)

1. Zurich (Switzerland)
2. Oslo (Norway)
3. Geneva (Switzerland)
4. Dubai (UAE)
5. Abu Dhabi (UAE)
6. London (United Kingdom)

 INDIAN CITIES RANKING (2025)

• Delhi – Rank 104
• Mumbai – Rank 106
• Hyderabad – Rank 109
• Bengaluru – Rank 110

Current Context : At the 23rd General Conference in Thailand, India was elected as Chairman of the AIBD Executive Board.

ABOUT AIBD

• Founded: 1977 under UNESCO
• Mandate: Strengthening electronic media in Asia-Pacific
• Membership: 92 organizations from 45 countries
• India’s Role: Founding member; represented by Prasar Bharati (Ministry of I&B)
• Secretariat: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia