The Coast Guards of India, Japan, the U.S., and Australia (QUAD members) have launched the first ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission’ under the Wilmington Declaration.

• The mission will strengthen maritime cooperation, security, and interoperability among QUAD coast guards in the Indo-Pacific and support India’s maritime vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Wilmington Declaration (2024)

• Issued by QUAD leaders in Wilmington, USA.
• Reaffirms commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific, respecting rule of law, democracy, and territorial integrity.
• Other Key Initiatives Launched:
  • Quad Cancer Moonshot (focus: cervical cancer)
  • MAITRI – Maritime training in the Indo-Pacific
  • Ports of the Future Partnership for support for digital infrastructure, including undersea cables

Scientists from S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) discovered a unique duality in alternemagnets using chromium antimonide (CrSb).

About Altermagnets 

• Definition: Altermagnets are a new type of magnetic material that combine the best features of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets.
  • Ferromagnets: Spins align in the same direction, resulting in strong magnetism. 
  • Antiferromagnets: Spins alternate, thus cancelling each other out, resulting in no external magnetism.
• Features:
  • Like antiferromagnets, they exhibit alternating spins and therefore have no net magnetism.
  • But due to their unique crystal symmetry, they show intense internal spin polarisation, similar to ferromagnets.
• CrSb (Chromium Antimonide) Shows the strongest spin-splitting among known altermagnets.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) operationalised the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), and a testing of the Cell Broadcast (CB) system is being conducted to ascertain the efficacy 

About SACHET (India’s SMS-Based Alert System)

• Developed by Centre of Development of Telematics C-DOT using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• Active in all 36 States and UTs.
• Sends geo-targeted SMS alerts during disasters like cyclones, floods, and storms.

About Cell Broadcast (Near Real-Time Emergency Alerts)

• C-DOT is developing it.
• CB alerts are broadcast directly to all mobile phones in the affected area.
• Much faster than SMS—ideal for urgent disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning, and gas leaks.

Supreme Court declined to hear a plea challenging the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, which governs the management of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bihar

Mahabodhi Temple Complex

• Historical Background:
  • First temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C.
  • Present structure dates to the 5th–6th century, late Gupta period.
• Architectural Features
  • Features a curvilinear shikhara, topped by an amalaka and kalasha.
    • However, the design of the temple is neither Dravidian nor Nagara.
    • It is narrow like a Nagara temple, but it rises without curving like a Dravida one. 
• Key Components: Main temple, Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), Sacred Bodhi Tree, holy sites of Buddha’s enlightenment, surrounded by votive stupas and three protective boundaries (inner, middle, outer).
• Global recognition: UNESCO World Heritage Site

170th years of Santhal rebellion is celebrated as Hul (revolution) Diwas..

About Santhal Rebellion (1855-56) 

• Tribal uprising: Santhal rebellion was one of the first expressions of revolt against the British colonial regime.
  • It is also considered to be the inspiration for the 1857 rebellion. 
• Region: It was organised in  Damin-i-Koh region in Rajmahal Hills of Jharkhand. 
• Leadership: it was initaitved mainly led by four brothers Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, Phulo & Jhano Murmu against British rule and exploitation.
• Reason: It is attributed to Permanent Settlement Act of 1793 that led to their displacement from Birbhum and Manbhum regions (present day Bengal) and subsequent exploitation by Zamindars, police and British. 

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MoI&B) has launched the WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025 under its flagship startup accelerator program, WaveX.

• Challenge Titled BhashaSetu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat, is a national hackathon to develop an AI-powered multilingual translation solution across at least 12 major Indian languages. 

About WaveX

• It is dedicated startup accelerator platform launched under the MoI&B’s WAVES initiative, aimed at nurturing innovation in the media, entertainment, and language technology sectors.
• WaveX continues to support breakthrough ideas through targeted hackathons, incubation, mentorship, and integration with national platforms.

For the first time, the Supreme Court has introduced a formal policy of reservation in the direct appointment and promotion for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) staff in court’s internal administration.

• The policy covers many posts, including registrars, senior personal assistants, assistant librarians, junior court assistants and chamber attendants.
• However, this policy is not applicable on judges.
• SC employees will receive a 15% quota and ST employees a 7.5% quota in promotions, aligning with central government’s reservation norms. 

Andaman Sea, which falls within Seismic Zone V (highest earthquake risk zone), experienced three earthquakes in a day.

About Andaman Sea

• It is a semi-enclosed marginal sea in the northeastern Indian Ocean.
• Bounded by Myanmar (North), Thailand and Malaysia (East), Indonesia and Strait of Malacca (South), and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (West). 
• Geologically active with features like the Andaman Trench, formed by subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.
• Marine Biodiversity: 
  • Part of the Coral Triangle, known for high marine biodiversity. 
  • Important for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.