Prime Minister visits Karni Mata temple in Rajasthan.

About Karni Mata Temple

• Located in Bikaner district, Rajasthan.
• Dedicated to Karni Mata, believe is an incarnation of Goddess Durga.
• Establishment: Rao Jaitasi built this temple, to commemorate the victory of Bikaner King over the Mughal King Kumaran.
• Religious Sect: The temple belongs to Shakta Sampradaya.
• Unique Feature:  In the whole world this is a unique temple where thousands of rats freely move out.
  • Despite the presence of the rats in great numbers, there was no incidence of plague at all.

President conferred Kirti Chakras and Shaurya Chakras to the personnel of the 

• Armed Forces, 
• Central Armed Police Forces and 
• State/Union Territory Police.

About Gallantry Awards

• Wartime awards: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra which were established in 1950.
• Peacetime awards: Established in 1952, Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II, and Class-III, but renamed as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra (respectively) in 1967. 
• Announcement is made Twice a year: On Republic Day and Independence Day. 
• Order of Precedence: Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
• They could be awarded posthumously also.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

• The badminton pair reached the No. 1 rank in Badminton World Federation rankings in 2023 & clinched Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou.

About Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Genesis: Established in 1991–92 as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, it was renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
• It is considered India’s highest sporting honour. 
• Objective: To recognize the most outstanding performance by a sportsperson over the preceding 4 years.
• Eligibility: Only performances in recognized international events are considered.
• Award: ₹25 lakh cash prize, Medal and a certificate of honour.

The New York Times won four Pulitzer Prizes and The New Yorker three for journalism in 2024.

About Pulitzer Prize

• The Annual Pulitzer Prize is an esteemed set of awards presented annually by Columbia University in New York City.
• Pulitzer Prizes were established by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and newspaper publisher, who left money to Columbia University upon his death in 1911.
• It recognizes outstanding achievements in journalism, letters, and music.
• It was first awarded in 1917.

The Department of Consumer Affairs commemorated World Metrology Day 2025, marking the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention. 

About Metre Convention

• Genesis: Signed on 20 May 1875, and amended in 1921.
• Purpose: Includes convention and its annexed regulation (commonly known as the “Metre Convention”) to assure the international unification and improvement of the metric system. 
  • Created an International Organization, International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) to develop and maintain a universal measurement system. 
• Significance:  International collaboration in metrology, global uniformity of measurements for research, trade, etc. 
• Members: 64 Member States and 37 Associate States (India is a member).