1. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)

Traffic between Sikkim/Kalimpong and Siliguri on NH10 was halted due to repairs by NHIDCL after landslides and cave-ins along a 30 km stretch.
About NHIDCL:

• A Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, established on 18 July 2014.

• Fully government-owned and dedicated to developing highways in border regions to boost regional connectivity.

• Operates in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Uttarakhand, and the Northeast.

• Manages tunnels, logistics hubs, and international road links.

• A key implementing body of India’s “Act East Policy” in the Northeast.

2. RS-28 Sarmat (Satan II)

As US-Russia tensions grow, focus returns to the RS-28 Sarmat, a powerful Russian ICBM nicknamed "Satan 2" by NATO.
About RS-28 Sarmat:

• A heavy, three-stage, liquid-fueled ICBM with an 18,000 km range and 208-ton launch weight.

• Can carry up to 16 nuclear warheads or Avangard hypersonic vehicles.

• Uses advanced guidance systems: inertial, GLONASS, and astro-inertial.

• Capable of fractional orbital bombardment, possibly bypassing traditional missile defense.

• Its warheads are reportedly 2,000 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb.

3. Sahel Region

Russia recently signed a nuclear pact with Niger, reinforcing its influence in the Sahel region of West Africa.
About the Sahel:

• A 5,000 km semi-arid belt across Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.

• Forms a transition between the Sahara Desert and humid savannas.

• Covers parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea.

• Vegetation includes dry grasslands and scattered trees like acacia and baobab.

• Faces challenges like extremism, poor governance, and climate change.

• A key migration route from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe.

4. Assets Under Management (AUM)

India’s mutual fund AUM surged to ₹74.4 lakh crore, a sevenfold rise over the past decade.
About AUM:

• Refers to the total value of assets managed by a fund or institution.

• Includes investments like stocks, bonds, etc.

• Influenced by market performance, inflows, withdrawals, and reinvestments.

• Indicates fund size, popularity, stability, and liquidity.

• Larger AUM often means more diversification and lower fees, but may also have high entry thresholds.

5. Mahabodhi Temple

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a plea to replace the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 with central legislation.
About Mahabodhi Temple:

• Located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar—site of Buddha’s enlightenment.

• Other key sites: Lumbini, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.

• First built by Ashoka (3rd century BC); current structure from the Gupta period (5th–6th century AD).

• Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

• Features include a 55-meter high brick shikhara, sacred Bodhi Tree, Vajrasana (diamond throne), and ancient railings.

• Houses shrines and Buddhist structures from various eras and countries.

6. UN World Food Programme (WFP)

India has partnered with the UN WFP to enhance rice fortification and supply chains in Nepal.
About WFP:

• The UN's largest humanitarian agency, established in 1961.

• Focuses on ending hunger (SDG 2), improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• Operates in 120+ countries, offering emergency aid and resilience programs.

• Funded through voluntary donations.

• In India since 1963; awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

• Releases the Global Report on Food Crisis.

• HQ: Rome, Italy.

7. Ayurveda Aahara

FSSAI, with the Ministry of Ayush, has issued an official list of recognized Ayurvedic food products.
About Ayurveda Aahara:

• Refers to foods based on Ayurvedic principles emphasizing natural, balanced, and seasonal diets.

• Regulated under the Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022.

• The definitive list is drawn from classical Ayurvedic texts to ensure authenticity.

• Aims to help food businesses manufacture compliant products and promote holistic health through Ayurveda-based nutrition.

8. Asian Giant Tortoise

The largest mainland Asian tortoise has been reintroduced in Nagaland’s Zeliang Community Reserve.
About Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys phayrei):

• Among the world’s oldest tortoise species.

• Found in hill forests across India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

• Feeds on bamboo, vegetation, invertebrates, and frogs.

• Threats: habitat loss, hunting, and human activity.

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

• CITES: Appendix II

• Known to protect eggs like crocodilians.

9. Seabuckthorn

Seabuckthorn and Himalayan buckwheat seeds from Ladakh are part of NASA's ISS experiments.
About Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides):

• Also known as ‘Ladakh Gold’ or ‘Wonder Plant’.

• Found in Himalayan cold deserts like Ladakh and Spiti.

• Bears vitamin-rich berries that survive harsh winters.

• Used traditionally for medicine, food, fencing, and fodder.

• Drought-resistant, withstands -43°C to +40°C.

• Serves as food for birds and fodder for animals like yaks and camels.

10. India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI)

NITI Aayog has launched the India Electric Mobility Index to track EV progress across states.
About IEMI:

• Evaluates Indian States/UTs on electric mobility progress out of 100 points.

• Covers 3 themes: Transport Electrification, Charging Infrastructure, and R&D Innovation.

• Helps benchmark state efforts, identify gaps, and encourage healthy competition.

• Aims to support India's EV transition through integrated, transparent tracking.

• Promotes knowledge sharing and policy alignment among states.