The 13th edition of the Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR begins at Misamari in Sonitpur district of Assam.
About Exercise KHANJAR
- Annual bilateral military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan.
- Aims to enhance interoperability between the Special Forces of both nations, with a focus on joint operations in urban warfare and counter-terrorism scenarios under the United Nations mandate.
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1 sourceIndia has Joined BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) to support manufacturing and MSMEs.
- BRICS is a group of eleven countries which serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries from the Global South.
About BCIC
- Launched in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- It serves as a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS countries, with a focus on strengthening Industry 4.0 competencies.
- National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BCIC.
The United States announced the launch of the Forum on Resource, Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) during the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial.
- Ministerial was hosted by US in Washington DC, bringing together delegations from over 50 countries (including India) to advance collaboration on securing and diversifying global critical mineral supply chains.
About FORGE
- FORGE has been created as a successor to the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).
- MSP aimed to bolster critical minerals supply chains to support economic prosperity and climate objectives.
- Objective: FORGE partners will collaborate at the policy and project levels to advance initiatives that strengthen diversified, resilient, and secure critical minerals supply chains.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released National Disaster Management Guidelines on Comprehensive Disaster Victim Identification and Management.
- It is India’s first-ever Standard Operating Procedure for the identification of victims in the event of “mass fatality incidents”.
- It recommends creation of a ‘National Dental Data Registry’; use of “forensic archaeology” to help in identification of bodies; etc.
About NDMA
- A statutory Body mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- Acts as the apex body for Disaster Management in India.
- Headed by: Prime Minister of India
- Mandate: To lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management.
Supreme Court Collegium has cleared 5 ex-judges in ad hoc role for Allahabad High Court.
About Ad hoc Judges
- Article 224A empowers the Chief Justice of a High Court to request a retired judge of any High Court to sit and act as a judge, with the prior consent of the President of India.
- Appointment is temporary: The person serves only for the period specified and is not treated as a permanent judge.
- Jurisdiction and powers: Enjoys the same powers, jurisdiction, and privileges as a regular High Court judge while in office.
Authorities in Iran have sprayed clouds with chemicals to induce rain over Urmia lake basin to combat the country's worst drought in decades.
About Lake Urmia (or lake Oromeeh)
- Location: Situated in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran.
- It is the largest lake in the Middle East.
- Terminal Lake: The lake has no outlet, making it a "dead end" for a large drainage system, making it extremely saline.
- Water Sources: Talkheh river in the northeast and the twin rivers Zarīneh (Jagātu) and Sīmīneh (Tatavi) in the south.
- Protected Status: Ramsar Site and part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)
