“SCIENCE”

India’s Gaganyaan Enters Final Phase, Crewed Flight Set for 2027

India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has entered its final development phase with the first crewed mission now scheduled for early 2027. This marks a major leap in India’s space capabilities, showcasing the country’s growing self-reliance in high-end space technology and strengthening its position as a global space power.

 “DEFENCE”

Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Back in Pakistan and PoK

In a significant military development, the Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a series of precision strikes on terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The operation comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, triggering widespread outrage and demands for decisive action.

“SPORTS”

China Clinches 14th Sudirman Cup Title Despite An Seyoung’s Heroics

China extended its supremacy in world badminton by clinching the Sudirman Cup 2025, defeating South Korea 3-1 in the final held in Xiamen, China. Despite a brilliant individual performance by An Seyoung, who maintained her perfect season with 25 consecutive wins, the Chinese team’s all-round dominance secured their 14th title in the World Mixed Team Championships.

“ APPOINTMENT”

Friedrich Merz Becomes Chancellor After Overcoming Historic Vote Setback

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has officially been sworn in as Germany’s new chancellor, marking the culmination of a dramatic political struggle. Despite an initial failure to secure enough votes in the Bundestag, Merz successfully won a second vote, securing a narrow majority. His victory represents a crucial turning point in Germany’s political landscape and the beginning of a new government under a conservative-led coalition.

Ms. Anuradha Prasad Takes Oath as UPSC Member

Veteran civil servant Ms. Anuradha Prasad, a 1986-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, took the oath as Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the seniormost member of the Commission. She brings over 37 years of diverse experience in public policy, finance, labour, defence acquisitions, and inter-governmental relations, and has played a key role in national initiatives such as the Labour Codes, e-Shram Portal, and Covid-19 worker welfare programs.

Sanjay Khanna Takes Additional Charge as Chairman & MD of BPCL

Sanjay Khanna has taken additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), while continuing as Director (Refineries). An NIT Tiruchirapalli graduate in Chemical Engineering with a postgraduate degree in Finance Management, Khanna brings over 30 years of experience in refinery operations and technical services.

 “NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade to Open Off-Campus Centre at GIFT City, Gujarat

In a significant move to strengthen India’s trade education ecosystem, the Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of an off-campus centre of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar. This strategic decision supports the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to foster multidisciplinary learning and capacity building in the field of international trade.

India Advances to 130th Rank in 2025 Human Development Report: Key Insights and Challenges

India has seen a notable rise in its ranking on the Human Development Index (HDI), improving from 133rd to 130th position in the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The country’s HDI value has increased from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, reflecting significant improvements in health and education, despite persistent income and gender disparities. The report also underscores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping India’s future development trajectory.