INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Yala Glacier in news:
Why in news?
- Nepal’s Yala Glacier in Langtang has officially been declared “dead,” marking a significant and symbolic loss in the global climate crisis.
- The declaration took place on May 12, 2025, after a mourning ceremony attended by glaciologists and locals from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region
- It is the first glacier in Asia to receive a memorial plaque
Note:
- The world’s first funeral was held for Okjokull glacier in Iceland in 2019.
- UN has designated year 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. March 21st is to be observed as ‘World Day for Glaciers.’
NATIONAL NEWS
2. Multi Agency Centre (MAC) at North Block in New Delhi:
Why in news?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates new Multi Agency Centre (MAC) at North Block in New Delhi
About Multi Agency Centre:
- MAC is a national intelligence-sharing fusion centre under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) where states and central agencies and police forces coordinate to share, store, collate, and analyse inputs on terrorism on a daily basis under four heads J&K, Northeast, LWE, and Rest of India.
- MAC was created in December 2001 in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict but was strengthened in December 2008, following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
- As many as 28 organisations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), armed forces, and State police, are part of the platform, and various security agencies share real-time intelligence inputs on MAC.
- The new MAC network connects all police districts in the country through a secured network and has been built at a cost of ₹500 crore.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
3. ‘Campus Calling’ programme:
Why in news?
National Commission for Women (NCW) launches ‘Campus Calling’ programme
Aim of launching this Programme:
- The programme aims to enhance gender sensitivity, raise awareness on the prevention of sexual harassment, and address cybercrimes impacting students.
- It has been launched in collaboration with Yuvamanthan’, a youth development platform.
- The programme aims to reach over 1,000 universities and colleges across the country, making it one of the most extensive youth-centric initiatives undertaken by the NCW.
AWARDS & HONOURS
4. 58th Jnanpith Award:
Why in news?
President presents 58th Jnanpith Award
About Jnanpith Award:
- 58th Jnanpith Award was presented to renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya for the year 2023.
- Note: Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla was named for 59th Jnanpith Award.
- He will be the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the award.
- Instituted in 1961, Jnanpith Award is regarded as the most prestigious literary award in India.
- The first recipient of the award was Malayalam poet G. Sankara Kurup, who received the award in 1965 for his collection of poems Odakkuzhal.
SCIENCE & TECH NEWS
5. ISRO’s 101st mission:
Why in news?
ISRO’s 101st mission fails as PSLV rocket suffers malfunction
Special features of this mission:
- In a rare failure, India’s main rocket PSLV developed problems a few minutes after take-off and failed to place earth observation satellite EOS-09 into the intended orbit on 18 May 2025.
- The mission was to carry the Earth observation satellite into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).
- However, the launch suffered a technical glitch during the third stage of PSLV’s flight and failed.
DEFENCE NEWS
6. Exercise Teesta Prahar:
Why in news?
Indian Army conducts Exercise Teesta Prahar
Aim of this military exercise:
- The exercise was carried out at the Teesta field firing range in West Bengal, near the strategic Siliguri corridor.
- It showcased the Army’s operational readiness and coordination among combat and support arms in riverine terrain
- ‘Chicken’s Neck’ or the Siliguri corridor is a narrow 22-km land corridor connecting the northeastern states with the rest of India.