1. Ghaggar River

Two teenagers tragically drowned in the Ghaggar River near Panchkula.

About the Ghaggar River:

• The Ghaggar is a seasonal river that flows through India and Pakistan, active mainly during the monsoon.

• Origin & Course: It originates in the Shivalik Hills of northwestern Himachal Pradesh and flows through Haryana’s Ambala and Hissar districts before vanishing into the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.

• It supplies water to two irrigation canals in Rajasthan.

• In Pakistan, the river continues as the Hakra, together forming the Ghaggar-Hakra River.

Historical Importance:

• Believed by many historians to be the Vedic Saraswati River.

• Numerous Indus Valley Civilization sites have been discovered along its banks, suggesting it supported ancient settlements possibly built by Vedic Aryans.

• It is believed that the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers once emptied into the Ghaggar-Hakra channel.

Tributaries: Kaushalya, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang rivers.

2. Breakthrough Prizes

The 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was awarded to four CERN LHC collaborations—ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb. Indian scientists significantly contributed to the ALICE and CMS experiments.

About the Breakthrough Prizes:

• Recognize outstanding contributions in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics.

• Established in 2013 by tech leaders including Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, and Yuri & Julia Milner.

• Dubbed the “Oscars of Science,” the awards aim to celebrate scientists, inspire youth, and promote global, non-political scientific advancement.

• Each prize includes a $3 million award—substantially higher than the Nobel Prize.

• Winners are selected by a committee of past laureates through a publicly accessible nomination process.

• Awardees participate in a televised ceremony and educational events like lectures and discussions.

• Repeat achievements make recipients eligible for future recognition.

3. Warrant of Arrest

The Supreme Court has clarified that when someone is arrested under a warrant, there's no need for a separate explanation of the arrest grounds, as the warrant itself fulfills that requirement.

About Warrants of Arrest:

• A written directive issued by a judge or magistrate—backed by an affidavit—authorizing the arrest of an individual charged with a specific crime.

• The arresting officer must inform the person of the warrant’s substance and present it if requested.

• The person must be brought before a court promptly after the arrest.

Requirements of a Valid Warrant:

• Must be written, signed by the presiding judge, and bear the court’s seal.

• Should specify the accused's name, address, and the offense.

• Warrants lacking these details are invalid.

Types of Warrants:

• Bailable: Allows release if bail with sureties is furnished.

• Non-Bailable: No provision for bail is mentioned in the warrant.

Arrest Without Warrant:

• Permissible in cognizable offenses (e.g., murder, robbery).

• Not allowed in non-cognizable cases unless authorized by a magistrate.

Other Situations Permitting Warrantless Arrests:

• Probable cause exists.

• A crime is being committed or has just been committed.

• The person is fleeing a crime scene or escaping custody.

• Violation of court orders or terms of probation/parole.

• Immediate public safety concerns.

4. Invar Missile

The Ministry of Defence is set to finalize a deal with Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) to procure 500 Invar anti-tank guided missiles, valued between ₹2,000–3,000 crore.

About Invar Missile:

• A high-precision anti-tank guided missile designed for launch from tank barrels, specifically from T-90 tanks.

• Effective against armored targets equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).

• Originally developed by Russia’s Rosoboronexport and licensed for production in India by BDL.

Key Features:

• Semi-automatic, laser beam-riding guidance system that resists jamming.

• Equipped with a tandem warhead capable of defeating modern armor.

• Can hit stationary or moving targets traveling up to 70 km/h.

• High accuracy and kill probability.

Specifications:

• Missile length: 695 mm | Throwing device: 395 mm

• Caliber: 125 mm

• Range: up to 5 km

• Flight time: 17.6 seconds

• Missile weight: 17.2 kg | Throwing device: 7.1 kg

5. Mt. Khangchendzonga

The Chief Minister of Sikkim has urged the central government to restrict mountaineering activities on Mt. Khangchendzonga, which holds deep spiritual significance for the local population.

About Mt. Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga):

• The highest peak in India and the third-highest in the world after Mt. Everest and K2.

• Located in the eastern Himalayas on the Sikkim–Nepal border, about 74 km from Darjeeling.

• Elevation: 8,586 meters (28,169 feet).

• Part of the Great Himalaya Range.

Cultural and Geographical Significance:

• The name translates to “Five Treasures of the Great Snow,” referring to its five summits.

• Surrounded by glaciers such as Zemu, Talung, Yalung, and Kanchenjunga glaciers.

• Receives substantial snowfall during the monsoon and lighter snowfall in winter.

• The Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim encompasses the mountain and is home to diverse wildlife.

• First ascended in 1955 by a British expedition led by Charles Evans.

6. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme
The Government of India has recently reinstated RoDTEP scheme benefits for exports made by Advance Authorization (AA) holders, Export-Oriented Units (EOUs), and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units.

About RoDTEP Scheme:

• Introduced via an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy (2015–20), RoDTEP came into effect on January 1, 2021.

• Its objective is to reimburse embedded taxes and duties on exported products that are not credited or refunded through any other scheme.

• It aims to improve export competitiveness by offsetting such taxes, including those at central, state, and local levels.

• RoDTEP is WTO-compliant and operates on a fully digital platform to ensure transparency and efficiency.

• It replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) following a WTO challenge from the US.

• The scheme is administered by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.

Tax Reimbursement Mechanism:

• The scheme covers unrefunded taxes and levies incurred during manufacturing and distribution.

• It includes both direct costs and accumulated indirect taxes at prior stages.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicable to all goods exporters regardless of turnover, provided the goods are manufactured in India.

• Both merchant and manufacturer exporters are eligible if the goods are exported directly.

• Priority is given to labor-intensive sectors previously supported under MEIS.

• EOUs, SEZ units, and exports via e-commerce platforms are eligible.

• Re-exported goods are excluded.

Refund Process:

• Reimbursement is provided as a percentage of the Free on Board (FOB) value.

• Exporters receive transferable electronic scrips (e-scrips), maintained in the electronic credit ledger by CBIC.

• These e-scrips can be used to pay basic customs duty or transferred to others.

7. Bow Echo
Recent severe storms in Delhi displayed a distinct bow-shaped pattern on radar, known as a bow echo.

What is a Bow Echo?

• A bow echo appears as a curved squall line on radar, extending 20 to 100 km and lasting 3–6 hours.

• The term was coined by meteorologist Ted Fujita in the 1970s.

Formation Process:

• Rain-cooled air descends and spreads out, forming a gust front with warm-moist surface air.

• This front lifts warm air, generating new thunderstorms, which in turn produce more rain-cooled air, sustaining the gust front.

• Continuous thunderstorm formation and inflow at the rear cause the line to bend like a bow.

• The cycle persists until storm formation ceases.

• Similar phenomena were observed in Delhi and Noida in 2022, with winds reaching 100 km/h.

8. Gond and Madhubani Paintings
A group of artists practicing Gond and Madhubani art recently met the President of India as part of the Artists in Residence program at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Gond Painting:

• Traditional tribal art of the Gond community, primarily from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

• Depicts nature, animals, celestial bodies, and mythological themes using natural materials like charcoal, plant sap, and colored soil.

• Painted on walls, cloth, or paper using twigs and leaves.

• Artists employ distinctive patterns (dots, lines, dashes, fish scales) to create unique compositions.

Madhubani Painting:

• Originated in the Mithila region of Bihar, traditionally done by women.

• Focuses on Hindu mythology (e.g., Ramayana), daily life, and festivals like Holi.

• Features deities such as Krishna, Durga, and Saraswati, often conveying messages of fertility and prosperity.

• Historically painted on mud walls and cloth; now also done on paper and canvas.

• Uses natural pigments like turmeric, lamp black, and cow dung, and is known for fine linework, double outlines, and geometric detail.

9. Ker Sangri
Ker Sangri, a traditional Rajasthani dish, has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Ker Sangri:

• A specialty of the Thar Desert, made from Ker berries and Sangri pods (from the sacred Khejri tree).

• Preparation involves soaking, boiling, and cooking with curd, spices, and red chillies to produce a tangy, spicy dish.

• Nutritional benefits include high fiber, low fat, and rich nutrient content.

• Commonly eaten with bajra roti and ghee, making it a wholesome meal.

• The Bishnoi community has long protected the Khejri tree, valuing it as a symbol of life.

About GI Tag:

• Indicates a product’s unique geographical origin and associated qualities or reputation.

• Commonly applied to foods, beverages, handicrafts, and industrial goods.

• Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

• Valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter.

10. Dugong
May 28 is observed as World Dugong Day to raise awareness about the conservation of this marine mammal.

About Dugong (Dugong dugon):

• The only herbivorous marine mammal in India; often called a "sea cow."

• Appearance resembles a seal-whale hybrid.

• Distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Gulf of Kutch.

Habitat & Diet:

• Dugongs depend entirely on seagrass beds (e.g., Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, Halodule).

• Inhabit shallow coastal waters where they graze throughout the day.

Reproduction:

• Reach maturity around 9–10 years; calve every 3–5 years.

• Due to low reproduction rates, the population grows slowly (max 5% per year).

Conservation Status:

• IUCN: Vulnerable

• CITES: Appendix I

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Threats:

• Declining population due to habitat degradation and loss of seagrass ecosystems.