Defence Minister inaugurated 125 border infrastructure projects including Shyok Tunnel in Ladakh.

About Shyok Tunnel

• Location: Situated on the Durbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) Road in eastern Ladakh.
  • Road connects Leh to the high-altitude Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) military outpost near China border (LAC)
• Features: 920-metre cut-and-cover tunnel built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• Significance: Provides all-weather connectivity in a region prone to heavy snowfall, avalanches, and extreme temperatures.

Chief justice of India was speaking on correctional reforms and suggested four "thoughtful proposals".

Four  proposals given by CJI

• Align prison training with the "economy of tomorrow”; inmates must be equipped with digital competencies, logistics expertise, & modern vocational skills.
  • Deeper industry collaboration, proposing a model where companies "adopt" prisons, offer apprenticeships, & eventually recruit trained inmates,
• Introduce UK-Style Electronic Monitoring of Convicts (Chip-based Tracking)
• Expand and Create More Open Prisons in India
• Establish a Data-Driven Rehabilitation Tracking System.

Prime Minister criticized the expression “Hindu rate of growth” which linked India’s slow economic performance in earlier decades to the faith and identity of people.

Hindu Rate of Growth

• The term “Hindu rate of growth” was coined by economist Raj Krishna in 1978.
• Used to describe India's slow economic growth after independence, mainly from the 1950s to the 1980s, when the country's GDP grew only about 3.5-4 per cent per year.
• The phrase suggested that this slow growth came from the “Hindu way of life,” implying a cultural habit of accepting fate or being content with little.

The IAEA has confirmed that the protective shield around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site in Ukraine has stopped working after being damaged in drone strikes.

About International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
• Established: in 1957 as an autonomous international organization within the UN. 
• Members: 180 (India is a member).
• Mandate:It helps countries use nuclear technology safely and peacefully, provides technology transfer, promoting strict nuclear safety standards, and verifying that nuclear materials are not used for weapons.
• Jurisdiction doesn’t include Military facilities; Non-NPT members (such India, Pakistan & Israel) are not obliged to place all their nuclear material under IAEA’s safeguard.
• Recognition: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (2005) for promoting peaceful nuclear use and global safety.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2803 which endorses the US backed Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict.

About Resolution 2803

• Establishes Board of Peace (BoP): As a transitional body to oversee Gaza’s redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority undertakes reforms.
• Humanitarian Aid: It calls for the resumption of aid to Gaza with safeguards to prevent diversion and ensure peaceful use.
• International Stabilization Force (ISF): It authorizes a temporary force to secure Gaza, assist demilitarization, protect civilians, and work with Israel, Egypt, and Palestinian police.

The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) gains traction as the platform gets 45000 requests a month.

About NATGRID

• NATGRID is an attached office of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It is an IT platform for the police and investigating agencies to securely access government and private databases in real time to counter terror.
• Accessibility: 11 Central Agencies (IB, RAW, DRI, ED etc.) and State Police.
  • Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers in States can access NATGRID.
• Scope:  allows access to driving license, Aadhaar registration, airline data, bank records, and also details of social media accounts which share posts on a particular issue. 

Recently, the washing accord for peace and prosperity was signed between Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, facilitated by the United States.

• Background: Earlier Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched new attacks in eastern DRC, fuelling displacement and regional tensions.

About the accord 

• Aim - To restore trust between these two countries and ensuring lasting peace in mineral rich Eastern DRC regions such as Katanga, Kivu, Ituri, etc.
  • DRC is known for its mineral such as copper and cobalt, tin, tungsten, tantalum, gold and diamond.
  • It’s the world’s largest cobalt producer, (70 % of global supply chain).