CURRENT CONTEXT: English PEN announced Leila Aboulela, a Sudanese-Scottish novelist, as the winner of the prestigious 2025 PEN Pinter Prize for her powerful exploration of faith, migration, and the lives of Muslim women.

 ABOUT LEILA ABOULLELA:

• Background: Born in Khartoum; based in Scotland since 1990; Honorary Professor at the University of
• Notable Works: The Translator (1999), Minaret (2005), River Spirit (2023).
• Recognition: Known for “unflinching” truth in writing; praised as “a balm, a shelter, and an inspiration”.

ABOUT THE PEN PINTER PRIZE:

• Established: 2009, in memory of Nobel laureate Harold Pinter.
• Purpose: Awards writers casting an “unflinching gaze” on society; includes a co-awarded “Writer of Courage.”
• Past Winners: Arundhati Roy (2024), Salman Rushdie (2014), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2018) .

CURRENT CONTEXT: The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), launched on 16 July 2015, has marked its 10th anniversary in 2025.

 ABOUT PMKVY:

• Phases & Components:
• PMKVY 4.0 (current phase), along with PM-NAPS and JSS schemes, form the core skill development initiatives under Skill India.
• Training Modules:
  • Short-Term Training (STT) aligned with NSQF standards
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) — skills certification for existing talent
  • Special Projects — focused on marginalized and remote communities
• KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
  • 63 crore individuals trained under PMKVY since inception.
  • Nearly 45% women, significant SC/ST/OBC participation
  • Special outreach: Bru‑tribe (Tripura), prison inmates, artisans, and more
  • Integration of modern tech training: AI, IoT, robotics, 5G, drones, green hydrogen

CURRENT CONTEXT: Legendary marathoner Fauja Singh, known worldwide as the Turbaned Tornado, passed away after being hit by a vehicle while walking near his village Beas Pind on 14 July 2025.

ABOUT FAUJA SINGH:

• Date of Birth: 1 April 1911 (claimed), Beas Pind, Punjab
• Running Career:
  • Began at age 89 in London (2000); completed marathons in London, New York, Toronto
  • First centenarian to complete a marathon (Toronto, 2011); personal best 5h 40m (aged ~92)
• Achievements & Recognition:
  • Olympic torchbearer (Athens 2004, London 2012)
  • Honored with British Empire Medal, Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

CURRENT CONTEXT: The four-day Behdienkhlam festival took place from 11–14 July 2025 in Jowai, Meghalaya.

It celebrated traditional rituals aimed at driving away disease while marking the post-sowing season.

 ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

• Meaning & Timing: “Drive away plague” — a post-sowing ritual to ward off disease and bring blessings for a good harvest.
• Rituals:
  • Young men beat rooftops with bamboo poles—a symbolic exorcism act.
  • Decorative poles (‘Khnong’ and tall ‘Rots’) are paraded, then immersed in the Wah Aitnar pool on the final day.
  • Dolois (priests) perform rites; women offer sacrificial food.

CURRENT CONTEXT: President Droupadi Murmu approved new appointments:  Governor of Haryana, Governor of Goa, and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.

 DETAILS:

• Haryana Governor – Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh: Academic and former BJP West Bengal chief; steps into the constitutional role from July 2025 .
• Goa Governor – Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju: Former Union Civil Aviation Minister, now Goa’s 20^th governor, representing TDP.
• Ladakh Lt Governor – Kavinder Gupta: Ex-doc from J&K (Deputy CM, Assembly Speaker), appointed to succeed B.D. Mishra in Ladakh’s top post.

CURRENT CONTEXT: Australia is hosting Talisman Sabre 2025, its largest-ever military exercise, starting 13 July 2025, involving 35,000+ troops from 19 countries, plus observers.

 ABOUT THE EXERCISE:

• Participants: Includes US, UK, India, Japan, Canada, Germany, South Korea, others; Malaysia and Vietnam as observers.
• Scope: Live-fire drills, amphibious landings, land, air, maritime, space, and cyber operations across Australia and, for the first time, Papua New Guinea.
• Assets involved: Ships like US aircraft carrier USS America, UK’s HMS Prince of Wales; advanced US HIMARS rocket systems were also used

CURRENT CONTEXT: India and Japan will introduce the next-gen E10 Shinkansen trains together around 2030 on Japan’s network and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed corridor. Trials with the current E5 model are planned for 2026–27.

 ABOUT E10 SHINKANSEN:

• World-class safety and speed: Based on Japan’s ALFA‑X design, can run at 320 km/h, L-shaped guide-wheels and dampers for earthquake protection, and braking that’s 15% better than earlier models .
• Modern features: Compact 10‑coach sets with 2+2 seating, larger desks, USB/AC outlets, Wi‑Fi, space for luggage, and no Green Class (top tier) but better business seats .
• Smooth, efficient running: Blowerless motors, energy-efficient inverters (SiC), streamlined nose for reduced noise.
• Cutting-edge safety: Fully automated Train Control (ATC) on dedicated tracks, removing level crossings and ensuring top-level safety.

Current Context  : DoT launched the national rollout of the Sanchar Mitra Scheme, engaging students from engineering and technical courses as Digital Ambassadors to spread telecom safety and digital literacy across India .

Purpose:

• Reduce the gap between telecom services and citizens
• Promote safe mobile use, cyber-fraud awareness, and radiation awareness
• Encourage innovation in telecom research and emerging technologies

Volunteers’ Role:

• Audience: Students from telecom, electronics, computer science, cybersecurity
• Training by: NCA‑T and DoT media wing
• Activities: Community drives, school sessions, collaboration with NGOs, awareness on 5G/6G/AI/cybersecurity
• Rewards: Internships, participation in national events based on performance

Current Context  : DRDO and IAF conducted a successful flight test of the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)from a Su‑30 MKI off Odisha.

About BVRAAM :

• Type: BVRAAM – fires beyond visual range (>100 km) .
• Seeker: Indigenous RF seeker from DRDO allows precise target tracking.
• Range & Performance: Over 100 km, with advanced guidance; hit targets at different angles/ranges with pinpoint accuracy.
• Production: Developed by DRDO labs and 50+ public/private industries, including HAL.
• Strategic Impact: Strengthens India’s air defence and helps build domestic defense tech.

Current Context : Advocate Varsha Deshpande from Maharashtra received the UN Population Award (Individual category) in New York, recognizing her decades-long work championing gender equality and fighting sex-selective practices.

 ABOUT VARSHA DESHPANDE:

• Secretary of Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, founded in 1990, focused on Dalit women’s rights and empowerment.
• Over 35 years dedicated to fighting gender-based violence, child marriage, and supporting women’s vocational training.
• Instrumental in promoting joint property ownership and advocating implementation of the PCPNDT Act to curb sex-selective abortions.

ABOUT THE UN POPULATION AWARD:

• Established in 1981 and first awarded in 1983.
• Honors individuals or institutions for outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health.
• Includes a gold medal, diploma, and cash prize.

SIGNIFICANCE: Deshpande became the third Indian recipient, after Indira Gandhi (1983) and JRD Tata (1992).