25th June 2025

Explanation - Al Udeid Air Base is located in the desert near Doha, Qatar, about 190 km south of Iran. It is the largest US military base in the Middle East. Strategic Role — Established in 1996, Al Udeid serves as the forward headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing operations from Egypt to Kazakhstan. Al Udeid is CENTCOM's forward headquarters. The main CENTCOM headquarters is in Florida. Al Udeid is also linked to other US activities in Qatar. A nearby former army base, Camp As Sayliyah, has been used to process Afghans seeking resettlement since 2022. Multinational Presence — The base hosts around 10,000 troops and accommodates forces from the US Air Force, Qatar Emiri Air Force, the UK's Royal Air Force, and other allied nations. Infrastructure and Capabilities — Al Udeid's long runways support rapid deployment, making it key for US force projection. It has been critical in operations across Iraq, Afghanistan, and humanitarian efforts like the Kabul evacuation in 2021. Qatari Investment — Qatar has invested over $8 billion in upgrading Al Udeid's infrastructure, keeping it modern and reducing the financial burden on US taxpayers. 

Explanation - The NAVYA – Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent is the joint pilot initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), in convergence with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Features of NAVYA Initiative — It is a pilot initiative aimed at equipping adolescent girls aged 16–18 years with a minimum qualification of Class 10, with vocational training mainly in non-traditional job roles. It will be implemented in 27 Districts of the country which include Aspirational districts and districts of North-eastern States spanning across 19 States, reflecting the Government's inclusive and targeted approach to reaching underserved regions and vulnerable populations. As part of the launch, both Ministries will formalise their collaboration to institutionalise convergence on skilling efforts for adolescent girls. The programme will draw upon the strengths of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and other flagship skill development schemes. Significance — Through NAVYA, the Government of India will reaffirm its commitment to empowering girls with skills, confidence, and opportunities—ensuring that every young woman becomes a catalyst in India's journey towards a developed, self-reliant, and inclusive future. 

Explanation - AITIGA was signed in 2009 and came into force in 2010, stemming from the 2003 Framework Agreement. AITIGA covers only trade in goods, not services (a separate agreement was signed for services in 2014). The agreement commits to tariff elimination on 76.4% of goods and includes special provisions for India's key products. Less developed ASEAN members get extended timelines, and sensitive products can be placed in an "exclusion list." 

Explanation - Operation Midnight Hammer is the codename for a covert US-led military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities carried out around midnight on June 21–22, 2025. It aimed to cripple Iran's nuclear program. The coordinated assault involved over 125 military aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, the deployment of 14 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, and more than 30 Tomahawk missiles launched from US submarines in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. This attack was the first time that the United States used its largest bunker-busting bomb, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), in an operational conflict. Targeted Sites — The operation targeted two uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz and one facility at Isfahan, which conducts several activities related to Iran's nuclear program. Natanz and Fordow are the only operational enrichment facilities in Iran. The US attacked Natanz and Fordow with B-2 bombers equipped with MOPs and only attacked Isfahan with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Why is Fordow so important? Located deep within a mountain 29 kilometers north of the Iranian city of Qom, the Fordow uranium enrichment facility stands as a highly protected and strategically central site within Iran's nuclear program. Its subterranean placement provides significant protection against potential aerial bombardment, a design choice indicative of its critical role. The facility is approximately 54,000 square feet and is believed to house 3,000 centrifuges. Under the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran was explicitly prohibited from conducting enrichment activities at Fordow. However, following the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 during the first Trump administration, Iran resumed enrichment activities at the site. 

Explanation - India's First Off-Grid Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant is located at Kutch, Gujarat. It is a 5 MW green hydrogen plant developed by Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), the clean energy arm of Adani Enterprises Ltd. An off-grid green hydrogen plant is a facility that produces hydrogen using electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind, and is not connected to the main electrical grid. This means the plant relies entirely on its own renewable energy generation for the hydrogen production process. The ANIL plant is fully powered by solar energy and works with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which enables it to operate completely off-grid. It features a fully automated and controlled electrolyser system, which is designed to respond to real-time renewable energy inputs. This provision, also known as a closed-loop system, aids in flexibility of operations, particularly in addressing the shifting nature of solar power, while ensuring efficiency, safety, and performance. The initiative is aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a flagship Government of India programme that aims to reduce import dependence, improve energy self-sufficiency, and ramp up decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, all in fulfilment of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat.