India and Indonesia agreed to jointly develop Sabang Port. 

About Sabang Port

• Location: Weh Island in Indonesia's Aceh province, at northern tip of Sumatra. 
• Significance:
  • Proximity to Strait of Malacca:  One of world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
    • It is a waterway connecting Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
  • Enhance India's strategic position:  Combined with upcoming Great Nicobar port, India would be able to further fortify its Indo-Pacific presence.
  • Can Counter China's String of Pearls: Chinese military, trade facilities and maritime links that stretch from mainland China to south of Port Sudan. 

DRDO conducts successful flight-test of Pinaka LRGR  for its user-specified minimum range of 60 km at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur

About Pinaka LRGR

• Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket is the guided version of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (PMBRL) system which is an all-weather artillery rocket system.
  • PMBRL mission is to deliver a large volume of fire within a very short time against critical and sensitive area targets.
• Designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (DRDO ) with other DRDO labs.
• Range: 60-120km

Indonesia became the first country that signed a pact to import India’s ASTRA missiles (Astra Mk 1)

About Astra Missiles (Astra MK1) 

• Type: beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles’ (BVRAAM) for airforce and navy 
  • BVR missiles are those capable of engaging beyond the range of 20 nautical miles, or 37 km
• Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Features 
  • Range :80 to 110 km
  • Altitude: up to 20 km 
  • Speed: Mach 4.5 ( 4.5 times the speed of sound)
  • Capabilities: inertial guidance, mid-course update and terminal active radar homing.

Government Notifies Navi Mumbai Airport as a Port for Import of Drugs.

• The notification has been issued under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 
  • Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 regulates the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs.
• Total number of ports of entry(road/rail/ship/air) becomes 42 with the latest addition.

Significance

• To strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain by improving import logistics.
• Facilitate faster movement of pharmaceutical consignments.
• Reduce pressure on existing notified ports handling drug imports.
• Support the Government's Ease of Doing Business initiative while maintaining regulatory oversight.

Uttarakhand has become the sixth fully literate state under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the 'ULLAS' (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) scheme.

• Uttarakhand joins Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

About ULLAS Scheme:

• It is a centrally sponsored initiative that aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 
• Implementation Period: 2022-2027.
• Vision: To make Bharat –‘Jan Jan Saakshar’. The scheme is based on the spirit of ‘Kartvya Bodh’ (DUTY) and is being implemented through volunteerism.
• Objective: To cover non-literates of the age group of 15 years and above in all States/UTs.
• Target: to provide Foundational Literacy and Numeracy to 5 crore learners, with 1 crore learners per year by using Hybrid Mode.

NMBA expand nationwide reaching over 29.24 crore individuals. 

About NMBA

• Launched on: 2020 in 272 Districts identified as most vulnerable in terms of substance use. 
  • Expanded to all Districts of India in 2023. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE)
• Objective: Achieving a Drug-Free India involving youth, women and community members.
• Three Pronged Strategy: 
  • Supply Control: Managed by Narcotics Control Bureau.
  • Demand Reduction & Awareness: Led by MoSJE. 
  • Treatment & Rehabilitation: By Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Egyptian Vulture has become locally extinct in Nilgiris and is disappearing from much of its range especially Tamil Nadu. 

About Egyptian Vulture

• Distribution: Across southern Europe, northern and central Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and Indian subcontinent
• Threats:  Use of veterinary anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, electrocution by power lines, etc.
• Characteristics: 
  • World’s smallest and only tool using vulture. 
  • breeds later in the year than other vulture species. 
  • Rub themselves with soil rich in ferric oxides. 
  • plays vital ecological role by removing animal carcasses from landscape. 
• Conservation Status: IUCN (Endangered); Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Schedule I).