9th May 2025

Explanation - Human Development Report is released by the UNDP. World Development Report is released by the World Bank; World Social Protection Report by International Labour Organisation and World Happiness Report by Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Explanation - Human Development Indicator(HDI) is calculated by the UNDP basically a composite mean, main aim is to compare the well-being of the people across different countries. It is calculated by taking the geometric mean (GM) of three indices: Life Expectancy rate. Education, Gross National Income (GNI) (Per capita income).

Explanation - The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation System is considered to be one of the world's largest multi-purpose projects. It is designed to provide water for irrigation and drinking purposes to about 45 lakh acres in 20 of the 31 districts in Telangana, apart from Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The cost of the project is Rs 80,000 crore, but is expected to rise to Rs 1 lakh crore by the time it is completely constructed by the end of 2020. This project is unique because Telangana will harness water at the confluence of two rivers Pranhita with Godavari by constructing a barrage at Medigadda in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district and reverse pump the water into the main Godavari River and divert it through lifts and pumps into a huge and complex system of reservoirs, water tunnels, pipelines and canals. The project has set many records with the world's longest water tunnels, aqueducts, underground surge pools, and biggest pumps. By the time the water reaches Kondapochamma Sagar, the last reservoir in the system, about 227 kms away in Gajwel district, the Godavari water would have been lifted to a height of 618 metres from its source at Medigadda. The total length of the entire Kaleshwaram project is approximately 1,832 km of which 1,531 km is gravity canals and 203 km comprise water tunnels. There are 20 water lifts and 19 pump houses in the project.

Explanation - NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) has revealed the structures in a newly discovered X-ray binary system designated as Swift J1727.8-1613, or Swift J1727 in short. It is a NASA Small Explorer Mission in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI). IXPE was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on December 9, 2021. IXPE is NASA's first mission to study the polarisation of X-rays from many different types of celestial objects. Objects such as black holes can heat surrounding gases to more than a million degrees. The high-energy X-ray radiation from this gas can be polarised – vibrating in a particular direction. The observatory features three identical telescopes, each consisting of a mirror module assembly with a polarisation-sensitive imaging x-ray detector at the focus. IXPE measurements will provide new dimensions for probing a wide range of cosmic X-ray sources - including active galactic nuclei (AGN) and microquasars, pulsars and pulsar wind nebulae, magnetars, accreting X-ray binaries, supernova remnants, and the Galactic centre.

Explanation - The theme of GLEX 2025 is explicitly mentioned as "Reaching New Worlds: A Space Exploration Renaissance," emphasising innovation, inclusivity, and international cooperation. GLEX 2025 is jointly organised by the IAF, ISRO (primary host), and ASI (co-host). The IAF, founded in 1951, has the motto "Connecting @ll Space People" and works to promote global space cooperation. GLEX 2025 is a milestone in India's growing global space leadership, marking its transition to a key international player.