Hwasong 19
North Korea recently conducted a test launch of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-19
- Developed by – North Korea
- Long-range intercontinental ballistic missile aimed at deterring external threats
- Uses solid fuel, enhancing mobility and readiness by eliminating the need for on-site fueling.
- Large size and transport vehicles make it easier to detect, raising concerns about its survival in actual combat.
Namo Drone Didi
Government of India has launched the “Namo Drone Didi” scheme
- Launched by the Government of India under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM).
- Aim – To provide women SHGs with drones for agriculture-related services, empowering them with new income sources
- Ministry – Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Funding – Central Financial Assistance covering 80% of the drone cost, capped at ₹8 lakh per drone.
- SHGs can secure loans for the remaining cost through the National Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with 3% interest subvention.
Analog Space Mission Military Exercises
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched India’s first analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh.
- Objective – Simulate interplanetary habitat conditions to assess the feasibility of a sustainable extraterrestrial base.
- Led by ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre with partners including AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, and IIT Bombay.
- Supports Gaganyaan and other future space missions by testing life-support technologies, habitat feasibility and behavior in isolated conditions.
Mount Annapurna
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), located at the base of Annapurna-I, has witnessed a record-breaking influx of tourists
- Situated in the Annapurna Range of Gandaki Province, north-central Nepal.
- Stands as the world’s tenth-highest peak
- Nickname: Often called the “Killer Mountain” due to its high fatality rate among climbers attempting to summit.
Electronic Voting Machine
During the Haryana Assembly elections, Congress raised concerns about EVM battery life discrepancies
- Portable device for conducting elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and local bodies, enabling electronic voting over traditional paper ballots.
- Voting capacity – Records up to 2,000 votes for efficient election handling.
- Secure storage – Encrypted memory ensures confidentiality of votes.
- Backup power – Alkaline batteries enable use in remote areas without electricity.
- Multilingual options – Supports multiple languages for voter accessibility.
- Designed by the Election Commission’s Technical Experts Committee, manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)