🏅 1) 69th National School Games Inaugurated in Jammu & Kashmir

Event: The 69th edition of the National School Games was officially inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir.

Organised by: School Games Federation of India (SGFI)

Objective: To promote grassroots-level sports talent and nurture young athletes from across the country.

Context: This marks the first time J&K has hosted the event, highlighting the government’s continued efforts to integrate the region into national sports development programmes.

Significance: Strengthens the sports infrastructure and youth engagement in the Union Territory.

🏔️ 2) Mera Hou Chongba Festival Celebrated in Manipur

Festival: Mera Hou Chongba (also spelled Mera Houchongba)

Location: Manipur

Significance: Symbolizes hill-valley unity, bringing together various ethnic communities of Manipur to celebrate brotherhood and harmony.

Cultural Highlights: Traditional dances, rituals, and offerings mark the occasion.

Context: This ancient festival reinforces social integration and cultural diversity in the Northeastern state.

🧮 3) Alexander Smith to Receive the 2025 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize

Awardee: Alexander Smith

Prize: SASTRA Ramanujan Prize 2025

Institution: Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA University), Tamil Nadu

Achievement: Recognized for his outstanding contributions to number theory and mathematics, particularly in areas related to Ramanujan’s work.

Context: The prize honors young mathematicians (under 32 years) whose work carries forward the legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

✈️ 4) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Appointed Brand Ambassador of Viksit Bharat Buildathon

Appointee: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Indian Air Force)

Role: Brand Ambassador for the Viksit Bharat Buildathon

Initiative By: Government of India

Objective: To inspire innovation, nation-building, and youth participation in India’s development vision for 2047 – Viksit Bharat.

Context: The Buildathon aims to crowdsource ideas and solutions from students, innovators, and professionals to accelerate India’s progress in various sectors.

🌍 5) Abu Dhabi to Host the IUCN Congress 2025

Event: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress 2025

Venue: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Purpose: To bring together global leaders, environmental experts, and policymakers to address biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development goals.

Context: The Congress serves as the world’s largest forum on nature conservation and climate action, setting agendas for global environmental policy.

💳 6) PayPal Integrates India’s UPI as Its First Global Payment System

Event: PayPal becomes the first international platform to integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a global payment mechanism.

Significance:

• Marks UPI’s expansion into the global digital payments ecosystem.
• Enables seamless cross-border transactions for Indian users.
• Context: This move showcases India’s fintech leadership, reinforcing UPI as a benchmark for real-time payments worldwide.

🕵️ 7) CBI and INTERPOL Launch Operation HAECHI-VI Against Cybercrime

Operation Name: HAECHI 6 (Sixth edition of the global cybercrime crackdown)

Agencies Involved: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and INTERPOL

Objective: To dismantle international cybercrime networks involved in financial frauds, phishing, and online scams.

Focus Areas:

• Investment scams
• Romance scams
• E-commerce frauds
• Context: Operation HAECHI is a recurring global initiative under INTERPOL’s coordination to protect digital financial ecosystems.