15th October 2025

Explanation - 
It is a disaster early warning platform envisioned by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide real-time geo-targeted alerts to citizens. It was developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D centre of the Department of Telecom. It is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It integrates multiple stakeholders to bridge communication gaps and employs multiple technologies, including SMS, Cell Broadcast, Mobile App, TV, Radio, Social Media, RSS Feed, Browser Notification, and Satellite, for enabling effective communication and ensuring last-mile reachability. This system is already operational in all States and Union Territories (UTs) of India and sends various disaster- or emergency- related alerts through SMS to mobiles of citizens affected in a particular geo-targeted area. Users can receive alerts for their current location or subscribe to any state/district in India to receive alert notifications. The SACHET mobile app provides warnings from authorised Government sources and authorities to warn the public of a possible disaster situation. Furthermore, the app provides weather reports and forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for day-to-day weather updates. 

Explanation -
LEAPS is a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 

Aim:
It aims to benchmark logistics excellence, strengthen India's competitiveness, and align with the vision of the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM GatiShakti. LEAPS 2025 has been conceptualised to acknowledge and celebrate best practices, innovation, and leadership within India's logistics industry. It covers a wide spectrum of logistics players, including air, road, sea, and rail freight operators; warehousing; multimodal transporters; MSMEs; Startups; and Academia. The initiative also emphasises sustainability, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices, and Green Logistics, encouraging collaboration between Government, Industry, and Academia to enhance efficiency, transparency, and resilience in the logistics ecosystem. 

Explanation - 
It is an annual nuclear exercise by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). It is an important test for the alliance's nuclear deterrent. It is hosted by a different NATO country each year. The 2025 edition of the exercise is being hosted by the Netherlands, with Volkel Air Base serving as the main operating site. Bases at Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Lakenheath in Britain, and Skrydstrup in Denmark will also be involved. Those nations, as well as Finland, Poland, the United States, and Germany, are among the participants. It will involve around 70 aircraft from 14 allied nations, including both conventional and dual-capable aircraft. Dual-capable aircraft refers to aircraft that can deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons, which includes Germany's Tornado, as well as the American and Dutch F-35 jets. The exercise won't use any actual nuclear weapons. Pilots and aircraft involved in the exercise are certified for the nuclear mission, but no weapons are loaded or flown. France isn't participating in the exercise, as the country keeps its nuclear forces separate from NATO's command-and-control structure and decision-making process. 

Explanation -
MONDIACULT is the acronym for the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development. It's the world's largest ministerial forum on cultural policy, bringing together UNESCO's 194 Member States to define the global agenda for culture. MONDIACULT's history is marked by two key UNESCO conferences in Mexico City — 

• 1982: The first conference expanded the definition of culture to include a society's total "distinctive features" and established culture as a fundamental part of development. 

• 2022: Revived 40 years later, this conference declared culture a global public good and human right. Its outcome, the Mexico Declaration, mandated the conference be held every four years and called for a stand-alone goal for culture in the UN's post-2030 development agenda. 

MONDIACULT 2025 —
MONDIACULT 2025 conference was held in Barcelona, Spain. 

• Six Themes: Cultural rights, Digital technologies in the culture sector, Culture and education, Economy of culture, Culture and climate action, and Culture, heritage, and crisis. 

• Two Focus Areas: Culture for peace and Artificial intelligence and culture. 

Explanation -
Blue Flag Certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by the Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark (FEE). It is awarded to beaches that meet 33 criteria related to cleanliness, beauty, and environmental sustainability. The Blue Flag programme was started in France in 1985 and in areas outside of Europe in 2001. It is one of the world's most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism boats. It promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas through four main criteria: water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. 

Mission:
The mission of Blue Flag is to promote sustainability in the tourism sector, through environmental education, environmental protection and other sustainable development practices. The other Indian beaches in the blue list are Shivrajpur-Gujarat, Ghoghla-Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri-Karnataka, Kappad Kerala, Rushikonda- Andhra Pradesh, Golden-Odisha, Radhanagar- Andaman and Nicobar, Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry beaches, Minicoy Thundi Beach, Lakshadweep, Kadmat Beach.