Current Context: The Indian Navy has recently commissioned a new naval base named INS Aravali at Gurugram, Haryana to strengthen its information and communication infrastructure. ABOUT INS ARAVALI Location: Gurugram, Haryana Named after: Aravali mountain range Motto: “Maritime Security through Collaboration” Key Features: Supports naval information and communication centres Enhances Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Strengthens command and control operations Promotes cooperation with other naval units and allied stakeholders Part of India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) Symbolism: Crest shows central mountain (strength) and rising sun (vigilance and innovation) Strengthens India’s role as the....Read More

Current Context: The Indian Army has recently conducted Exercise Siyom Prahar to test and validate the operational use of drones under realistic battlefield conditions. ABOUT EXERCISE SIYOM PRAHAR Type: Major field training exercise of Indian Army Focus: Use of drone technology in modern tactical operations Aim: Enhance operational preparedness and battlefield effectivenessRead More

Current Context: Madhya Pradesh has initiated a plan to introduce a female cheetah into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to expand the cheetah reintroduction programme in India. ABOUT GANDHI SAGAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Location: Northwestern Madhya Pradesh (along MP-Rajasthan border) Declared as: Wildlife sanctuary in 1974 Area: 368 sq. km Rivers: Chambal River flows through it, dividing it into two parts Ecoregion: Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests Key Features: Identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) Includes historical and archaeological sites like: Chaurasigarh Chaturbhujnath Temple Bhadkaji rock paintings Hinglajgarh Fort Taxakeshwar TempleRead More

Current Context: Andhra Pradesh’s Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) have recently been included in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. ABOUT ERRA MATTI DIBBALU Location: Near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh Discovered by: British geologist William King in 1886 Declared as: National Geo-heritage Monument by Geological Survey of India in 2016 Key Features: Composed of sand, silt, and clay with a distinct red colour due to natural oxidation Represent the late Quaternary geologic age Show unique badland topography with gullies, dunes, buried channels, beach ridges, wave-cut terraces, etc. Depict real-time climate change effects and geological evolution Archaeological significance: Artefacts....Read More

Current Context: India has successfully tested the indigenously developed Supersonic TARget (STAR) missile, ending the country’s dependence on costly imported target systems for missile training exercises. ABOUT STAR MISSILE Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Purpose: To simulate realistic threats for training India’s armed forces in missile interception and defence systems Nature: Not a combat weapon — mimics enemy missiles for training Variants: Air-Launched STAR: Can be launched from fighter jets like LCA Tejas Simulates air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes including Anti-Radiation and Anti-AWACS roles Ground-Launched STAR: Truck-mounted, mobile Can be launched from shorelines or remote areas Key Features: Two-stage....Read More