India successfully tested a new long-range surface-to-air missile, reinforcing its integrated air defense network. This effort is central to projects like Project Kusha, which focuses on developing multi-layered air defense, including multiple interceptor missiles with ranges from 150 km to 350 km. The indigenous development by DRDO and partners aims to shield critical infrastructure against aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones, complementing platforms like the S-400 system and the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS).
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India's wild elephant population has dropped by nearly 25% over eight years, falling from 29,964 in 2017 to an estimated 22,446 in 2025, according to the first-ever nationwide DNA-based census (SAIEE 2021–25). This scientific exercise, which analyzed over 21,000 dung samples across 20 states, attributes the decline primarily to habitat loss, fragmentation, and rising human-elephant conflicts. The study highlights severe challenges in elephant habitats like the Western Ghats (Kerala and Karnataka). It stresses the urgent need for restoring habitat corridors and implementing coordinated, landscape-level conservation efforts to ensure human-wildlife coexistence.
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On October 18, 2025, over 2,600 "No Kings" protests erupted across the U.S., mobilizing millions against President Donald Trump's policies, which participants characterized as authoritarian and an erosion of democratic norms. The movement specifically rejected what they saw as his "imperial" style, citing aggressive actions on immigration, federal overreach, and speech restrictions. While demonstrators emphasized pro-democracy rights, Republican officials and Trump himself dismissed the protests; the President rejected the "king" label during a Fox News interview. These rallies mark a continuation of nationwide dissent against his administration.
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India's wild elephant population has seen its first decline in decades, falling from 27,694 in 2017 to 22,446 in the latest Status of Elephants in India (SAIEE) 2021–25. This drop, following a peak of 30,051 in 2012, is primarily caused by habitat loss and fragmentation from encroachment, infrastructure, and intensive mining in regions like the Western Ghats and Central India. Karnataka still holds the largest population at 6,103. The census, which used DNA mark-recapture methods for accuracy, highlights the urgent need for integrated conservation, corridor restoration, and conflict mitigation strategies.
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At the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt (October 2025), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gained global attention when U.S. President Donald Trump paused his own speech to invite him onstage, publicly praising both Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, whom Trump described as his “favourite field marshal.” Sharif responded by nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier in the year and for efforts toward peace in Gaza.
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Kolkata’s Illumination Project, led by the citizen initiative Kolkata Restorers, continues to transform the city’s heritage landmarks using warm yellow LED lighting designed to preserve architectural beauty while reducing light pollution. The project, pioneered by Mudar Patherya, has illuminated structures like the Eastern Railway Building and Radha Jiu Temple, promoting sustainable lighting aesthetics over excessive brightness—a striking contrast to the glare of commercial LED billboards seen during the Diwali 2025 celebrations on October 20.
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On April 1, 2025, India and China celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, marking ties first established in 1950. The milestone was commemorated with messages exchanged between President Droupadi Murmu and President Xi Jinping, who described the partnership as a “Dragon-Elephant Tango,” symbolizing peaceful coexistence and mutual growth. The two nations emphasized strengthening trust, enhancing border stability, and promoting cooperation under multilateral platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
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Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles in January 2024. The policy, enacted under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative, effectively prohibits the import of all internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, allowing only electric and hybrid vehicles into the country.
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The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of the rapidly rising cases of digital arrest scams across the country, particularly targeting senior citizens. In these scams, fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, or judiciary via phone and video calls, showing forged court orders—including fake Supreme Court orders with forged signatures. They threaten victims with arrest, freezing of bank accounts, or cancellation of passports, coercing them to pay hefty fines or "security deposits." The malpractice severely undermines public trust in the judicial system. In one notable case, a senior couple from Ambala was defrauded of over ₹1.5 crore. The court emphasized the need for a coordinated response between central and state agencies to tackle this organized crime.
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Ayodhya set a new Guinness World Record during the Deepotsav 2025 celebrations by lighting an astonishing 26,17,215 diyas (earthen lamps) along the banks of the River Saryu. The 9th edition of Deepotsav also set another world record for the most people performing simultaneous ‘diya rotations’ (aarti), with 2,128 participants. This grand festival, inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, symbolizes faith, prosperity, and cultural vibrancy, reinforcing Ayodhya’s significance as a global spiritual and tourism center. The festival featured Ramayana-themed tableaux, folk performances, and a stunning laser light show.
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