North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Latest News

NATO Clarifies Statement on Missing U.S. Soldiers in Lithuania

Why in the News?

• NATO clarified its earlier statement regarding the status of four missing U.S. soldiers in Lithuania, emphasising that "the search is ongoing."
• Initial confusion arose when NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte suggested that the soldiers had died. Still, later, NATO stated that Rutte was referring to unverified news reports rather than confirming their fate.
• The soldiers were part of the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, conducting training exercises near Pabradė, Lithuania, close to the Belarus border.
• Their armored vehicle was found submerged in water, and recovery efforts are underway.

Geopolitical Context

• Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are NATO members with tense relations with Russia and Belarus.
• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (2022) has further strained regional security dynamics, increasing military exercises and NATO presence in the Baltic region.
• Belarus, a close ally of Russia, shares borders with Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, making NATO operations in these areas strategically significant.

About NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) FAQs

Q1. What is NATO?
Ans. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance formed in 1949 to ensure collective security among its member states.

Q2. How many countries are part of NATO?
Ans. NATO currently has 32 member states, including the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and most of Europe.

Q3. What is NATO’s collective defense principle?
Ans. Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members, ensuring mutual defense.

Q4. Is India a member of NATO?
Ans. No, India is not a member of NATO but engages with NATO on strategic and security issues through diplomatic channels.

Source: TH

Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics Latest News

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India recently signed an agreement with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) to leverage advanced technologies in geographic information systems and remote sensing.

About Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics

• It is an autonomous scientific society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
• Location: Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Objective: To undertake technology development & management, research & development, facilitate national and international cooperation, capacity building, and support technology transfer & entrepreneurship development in the area of geospatial technology.
• BISAG-N has three main domain areas: satellite communication, geo-informatics and geo-spatial technology.
• BISAG-N provides specialized services and solutions in implementing map-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 
• BISAG-N undertakes all services for the entire process of implementing an enterprise level GIS system. 
  • These services include GIS database design and development, map creation/updation and finishing, data migration/conversion and format translation, software development and customization, systems integration, and technical consulting.
• BISAG-N also provides complete GIS solutions, which bundle hardware and software with GIS systems development services.
• BISAG-N offers comprehensive GIS/Photogrammetric solutions over large geographical areas. 
• These include solutions and services in the areas of mapping, cartography, imaging, photogrammetry, and utility/environment resource management. BISAG-N provides solutions based on Remote Sensing, using multispectral data, for specific applications like agricultural crop monitoring, watershed management, forest fire mapping, etc.
• The Institute works in close coordination with GoI Ministries and State Government departments/agencies and has thus emerged as a National level agency to use satellite communication and Space & Geo-spatial technologies for the planning and development activities in various sectors of the Government.

Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics FAQs

Q1. Under which ministry does BISAG-N operate?

Ans. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)

Q2. Where is the headquarters of BISAG-N located?

Ans. Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Q3. What are the three main domain areas of BISAG-N?

Ans. Satellite Communication, Geo-informatics, and Geo-spatial Technology

Source: BS

Channa nachi Latest News

A new species of snakehead, named Channa nachi, was recently discovered in Meghalaya.

About Channa nachi

• It is a new species of snakehead fish.
• It was found in a shallow, slow-flowing stream that feeds into the Simsang River system near Chokpot village, Meghalaya, a waterbody with a substrate of sand, leaf litter, and pebbles—an ideal habitat for lesser-known aquatic species.
• The stream is also home to other freshwater fish species such as Schistura reticulofasciata, Dario kajal, Pseudolaguvia sp., and Barilius bendelisis, but Channa nachi stands out for its striking appearance and distinct characteristics.

Channa nachi Features

• Medium-sized snakehead species with an attractive bicolor body.
• A slender body with a unique creamish-yellow to greyish-blue coloration.
• Pale-blue marbling on the ventral area.
• 10–12 pale brown saddles on the dorsal half.
• No spots or blotches.
• No transverse markings on the caudal fin.

Channa nachi FAQs

Q1. What type of species is Channa nachi?

Ans. A new species of snakehead fish.

Q2. Where was Channa nachi discovered?

Ans. A stream feeding into the Simsang River system, Meghalaya.

Q3. What is the typical habitat of Channa nachi?

Ans. Shallow, slow-flowing streams with sand, leaf litter, and pebbles

Source: HUBN

Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS) Latest News

Defence Ministry Signs ₹2,500 Crore Contracts for NAMIS and Light Vehicles

About Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS)

Developed By:

• Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), DRDO
• Production by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Key Features:

• NAMIS is a tracked version of the Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) mounted on a BMP-2 chassis.
• Third-generation ‘fire-and-forget’ missile that locks onto targets using an Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker before launch.
• Designed to destroy heavily armored enemy tanks, including those equipped with composite and reactive armor.
• Night-strike capability for operations in low visibility conditions.
• Attack Modes:
  1. Top Attack Mode: Missile climbs after launch and dives onto the target from above.
  2. Direct Attack Mode: The Missile travels at a lower altitude and directly hits the target.
• Range: 500 meters to 4 km.
• NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier):
  • Based on Russian-origin BMP-II Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
  • Amphibious capability for mobility across varied terrains.

Other Versions of Nag ATGM:

• Helina (Helicopter-Launched Version):
  • Successfully tested in 2018.
  • Developed for Rudra and Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs).

Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS) FAQs

Q1. What is the Nag Missile System?
Ans Nag is an Indian third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Q2. What are the variants of the Nag missile?
Ans. Variants include Helina (air-launched), Dhruvastra (advanced Helina), NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier), and MPATGM (Man-Portable ATGM).

Q3. What is the strike range of the Nag missile?
Ans. The Nag missile has a range of 4–7 km, depending on the launch platform.

Q4. What makes Nag different from other ATGMs?
Ans. Nag features imaging infrared (IIR) guidance, a tandem warhead to defeat explosive reactive armor (ERA), and top-attack capability.

Source: TH

Exercise Prachand Prahar Latest News

The Indian Armed Forces recently conducted a multi-domain exercise, Prachand Prahar, in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Exercise Prachand Prahar

• It is a tri-service integrated multi-domain warfare exercise conducted in the high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It was conducted ‘deep’ in the high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern sector of the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• It was carried out under the aegis of the Eastern Army Command.
• The exercise involved the Army, IAF and the other combat elements in a synergised combat drill designed to simulate future warfare. 
• It commenced with the deployment of advanced surveillance resources of all three services, including long-range surveillance aircraft of the IAF and the maritime domain awareness aircraft of the Indian Navy, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), along with space resources and the Indian Army’s elite special forces to create seamless domain awareness and detect simulated targets.
• Once identified, these targets were swiftly destroyed through the synchronised joint firepower of fighter aircrafts, long-range rocket systems, medium artillery, armed helicopters, swarm drones, loitering munitions, and kamikaze drones in an electronically contested environment.
• The ‘Exercise Prachand Prahar’ validated integrated planning, command and control, as well as seamless execution of surveillance and firepower platforms across the three services, covering the entire spectrum of conflict.
• This exercise is in continuation with ‘Exercise Poorvi Prahar’ held in November 2024, which had focused on the integrated application of aviation assets.

Exercise Prachand Prahar FAQs

Q1. What is Exercise Prachand Prahar?

Ans. A tri-service integrated multi-domain warfare exercise.

Q2. Where was Exercise Prachand Prahar conducted?

Ans. Arunachal Pradesh

Q3. Under which command was Exercise Prachand Prahar conducted?

Ans. Eastern Army Command

Source: ET

Gaia Mission Latest News

On March 27, 2025, ESA confirmed that the space observatory mission, Gaia was "passivated" (drained of energy) and placed into a safe "retirement orbit" around the Sun.

About the Gaia Mission

• Full Name: Originally named Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA), later simplified to Gaia.
• Launched in 2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA), it aimed to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way through astrometry (measuring positions and movements of celestial bodies).
• Position: Placed at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1.5 million km from Earth (behind Earth when viewed from the Sun), ensuring an unobstructed cosmic view.
• Scientific Instruments:
  • Twin Telescopes: Captured light from different directions.
  • Digital Camera: Nearly 1 billion pixels, the largest ever flown in space.
  • Three Key Instruments:
    • Astrometer: Measures precise locations of celestial bodies.
    • Photometer: Determines brightness and temperature of stars.
    • Spectrometer: Identifies chemical composition and motion of objects.

Key Discoveries of Gaia

• Mapping the Milky Way in 3D: The First precise 3D map of the Milky Way galaxy also helped understand the shape of the galaxy, including:
  • The central bar and spiral arms.
  • A warped, wobbly disc, likely caused by past collisions with smaller galaxies.
  • Ripples in the galaxy from these collisions may have led to the formation of new stars, including the Sun.
• Discovery of New Black Holes: A new class of black holes that are invisible and can only be detected by their gravitational effects.
  • Discovered one of the closest black holes to Earth.
• Tracking asteroids and space threats: Gaia identified over 1,50,000 asteroids, tracking their orbits and potential threats to Earth.

Gaia Mission FAQs

Q1. What is the Gaia Space Telescope?
Ans. Gaia is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission designed to map the positions, distances, and motions of over a billion stars in the Milky Way.

Q2. What is the main objective of the Gaia mission?
Ans. The mission aims to create a precise 3D map of our galaxy, helping scientists understand its structure, formation, and evolution.

Q3 When was the Gaia telescope launched?
Ans. Gaia was launched on December 19, 2013, aboard a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana.

Source: IE

Mount Kenya Latest News

Climate change is rapidly accelerating the melting of glaciers on Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro.

Why in the News?

• The Lewis Glacier, once a prominent ice mass, has now shrunk significantly, with studies predicting Mount Kenya could become entirely ice-free by 2030.
• A 2011 study from Austria’s University of Innsbruck reported that Lewis Glacier lost 90% of its volume between 1934 and 2010.
• A 2023 satellite study found that only 4.2% of the ice observed in 1900 remains today.

About Mount Kenya

• Location: Central Kenya, just south of the Equator.
• Elevation:5,199 meters (17,058 feet) at its highest peak (Batian).
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Designated in 1997 for its ecological and cultural significance.
• Geological Origin: A long-extinct stratovolcano, heavily eroded over time.
• Glaciers: Home to Lewis Glacier and Tyndall Glacier, among the last remaining tropical glaciers in Africa.

Mount Kenya FAQs

Q1. Where is Mount Kenya located?
Ans. Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, Africa, and is the second-highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro.

Q2. What is the significance of Mount Kenya in terms of biodiversity?
Ans. Mount Kenya is home to unique alpine flora and fauna, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its rich biodiversity.

Q3. What type of volcano is Mount Kenya?
Ans. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano that last erupted over 3 million years ago.

Q4. What is the highest peak of Mount Kenya?
Ans. The highest peak is Batian (5,199 meters), followed by Nelion (5,188 meters) and Point Lenana (4,985 meters).

Source: IE

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the ‘Indian Bison Fest’ to spread the word about its conservation needs and ecological significance.

About Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is situated in the Bargarh district of Odisha near the Hirakud dam (Mahanadi River).
• It finds a special mention because of noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. 
  • During his rebellion against the British, his base at ‘Barapathara” was located within the sanctuary.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous mixed forests.
• Flora: Major trees found here are Sal, Asana, Bija, Aanla, Dhaura etc.
• Fauna: A huge variety of wild animals reside in the dense forest of the sanctuary, such as Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Hyena, Spotted Deer, Antelopes, Sambar, Gaur, Nilgai, Bison, Langur Monkeys etc.

Key Facts about Indian Bison

• Indian Bisons are one of the largest extant bovines. It is one of the largest species among the wild cattle, reaching a shoulder height of up to 220 cm.
• Habitat: They are found on the forested hills and grassy areas of south to southeast Asia.
• Distribution:
  • There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population present in India. It is also found in Burma and Thailand.
  • The Western Ghats in southern India constitute one of the most extensive extant strongholds of gaur, in particular in the Wayanad – Nagarhole – Mudumalai – Bandipur complex.
• The gaur is the State Animal of Goa and Bihar. 
• Conservation:
• IUCN: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1. Which river flows through Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans. The Hirakud Reservoir, which is formed by the Mahanadi River, flows along the eastern boundary of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Q2. In which Indian state is Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans. Odisha

Q3. Which noted freedom fighter is associated with Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans. Veer Surendra Sai

Source: NIE

US Commission on International Religious Freedom Latest News

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently recommended targeted sanctions against India's external spy agency R&AW over alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists.

About US Commission on International Religious Freedom

• It is a U.S. federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. 
• Functions: USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
• USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the President or Congressional leaders of each political party.
• Their work is supported by a professional, nonpartisan staff.
• USCIRF issues an annual report that assesses the US government’s implementation of IRFA, highlights “Countries of Particular Concern” engaging in severe religious freedom violations, documents the conditions of religious freedom in many countries, and provides policy recommendations.
• It uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally.
• Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that: 
  • “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”

US Commission on International Religious Freedom FAQs

Q1. What is the main function of US Commission on International Religious Freedom?

Ans. Reviewing international religious freedom violations and making policy recommendations.

Q2. What designation does USCIRF assign to countries engaging in severe religious freedom violations?

Ans. Countries of Particular Concern (CPC)

Q3. When was the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) created?

Ans. 1998

Source: HT

Free Movement Regime Latest News

Should the free movement regime between India and Myanmar remain?

Why in the News?

• In February 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border would be scrapped.
• The decision was reportedly influenced by former Manipur CM N. Biren Singh, who blamed unregulated cross-border movement for fueling ethnic conflict in Manipur.
• However, Mizoram and Nagaland opposed the decision, and no official notification or bilateral agreement has been made yet.
• The FMR was introduced in 1968 and initially allowed movement up to 40 km, later reduced to 16 km in 2004, with additional regulations enforced in 2016.

About Free Movement Regime (FMR)

• The FMR is a bilateral arrangement between India and Myanmar that permits unrestricted movement within 16 km on either side of the 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border (IMB).
• Eligibility: Any member of the hill tribes (whether an Indian or Myanmar citizen) can cross the border with a border pass valid for one year and stay for up to two weeks per visit.
• Objective:
  • To maintain historical, cultural, and social ties between the trans-border communities.
  • To boost local trade and facilitate familial visits.
  • To serve as a unique case of cross-border cooperation under India’s Act East Policy.
• Implementation:
  • Introduced formally in 2018, although movement existed informally for centuries.
  • Inspired by India's Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations.

Free Movement Regime FAQs

Q1. What is the Free Movement Regime (FMR)?
Ans. FMR is an agreement between India and Myanmar that allows border residents to travel visa-free within a specified range for social and economic interactions.

Q2. What is the distance limit for movement under FMR?
Ans. Indian and Myanmar residents living within 16 km of the border can cross freely with a border pass for up to two weeks.

Q3. Why is the FMR important for India-Myanmar relations?
Ans. FMR facilitates people-to-people connectivity, trade, and cultural exchanges while addressing security concerns like insurgency and illegal activities.

Q4. Which Indian states benefit from the FMR?
Ans: The FMR applies to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, which share a border with Myanmar.

Source: TH