1) Central Government Grants GI Tag to Sikkim’s Traditional Lepcha Musical Instruments
- The Government of India granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to two traditional Lepcha musical instruments from Sikkim:
- Tungbuk – a traditional three-string plucked instrument
- Pumtong Pulit – a bamboo flute
- The recognition helps protect the cultural identity of the Lepcha community and promotes indigenous craftsmanship.
2) Hindi Children’s Literature Book “Ek Bate Barah” Receives Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Award 2025
- The Bal Sahitya Award 2025 (Hindi language category) was awarded to Sushil Shukla for his non-fiction and memoir-style book “Ek Bate Barah”.
- The award honours excellence in children’s literature and includes a bronze plaque and cash prize.
3) India’s First Modern River Terminal Inaugurated in Guwahati
- India’s first modern river terminal was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam, located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River.
- The terminal includes structured ferry boarding zones, waiting lounges, cargo facilities and will boost river-based transport, tourism and trade in the Northeast.
4) Khaled El-Enany Appointed Director-General of UNESCO
- Egyptian scholar and former Minister of Tourism & Antiquities Khaled El-Enany has been appointed as the Director-General of UNESCO.
- He becomes the first person from the Arab world to lead UNESCO and will focus on culture protection, inclusive education and scientific cooperation.
5) ISRO Tests Main Parachutes of the Gaganyaan Crew Module in Uttar Pradesh
- ISRO successfully tested the main parachute system for the Gaganyaan crew module at the Babina Field Firing Range (BFFR) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
- The system involves multiple parachutes to ensure the spacecraft’s safe descent and landing during India’s upcoming first human spaceflight mission.
