Defence, National Security and Terrorism
Astra MK- III
- India’s latest and most advanced air-to-air missile, the Astra MK-III, has now been officially renamed as Gandiva.
- Astra MK-III (Gandiva) is India’s most advanced beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, developed by DRDO.
- It has an unmatched range of 340 km, exceeding China’s PL-15 (300 km) and the U.S. AIM-174 (240 km).
Awards & Honours
Ramsar Award for Wetland Wise Use
- Jayshree Vencatesan (co-founder of Care Earth Trust) is the first Indian to receive the Ramsar Award for ‘Wetland Wise Use’.
- The Ramsar Awards recognize individuals and organizations contributing to sustainable wetland management, with categories including wise use, innovation, and policy influence.
- Jayshree Vencatesan’s Contributions: She has worked extensively on Pallikaranai Marsh in Chennai, documenting its 337+ species of flora and fauna.
Mauritius’ Highest Award
- The Prime Minister of Mauritius presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the highest award, “The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.”
- He earned the distinction of being the first Indian leader to receive this award, and it marks the 21st highest award received by Prime Minister Modi from foreign countries.
- He is the 5th foreign leader to receive this award.
