1) Muzaffarpur, Bihar Tops in INSPIRE MANAK Awards 2025
- Muzaffarpur district of Bihar secured the top position in the INSPIRE MANAK Awards 2025 for student-led innovations.
- The scheme (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) is run by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and National Innovation Foundation (NIF).
- Recognizes original ideas and innovations by school students from Class 6–10.
2) India Surpassed Japan as World’s 3rd Largest Automobile Market
- India overtook Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market, after China and the USA.
- Reflects rising domestic demand, manufacturing growth, and exports.
- Strengthens India’s role as a global auto manufacturing hub, especially under the PLI Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components.
- Nodal Body: Ministry of Heavy Industries.
3) India Ranked 38th in Global Innovation Index 2025
- India ranked 38th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
- India continues to perform strongly in ICT services exports, venture capital, and R&D ecosystem.
- Consistently improving since 2015, when it was ranked outside the top 80.
- Nodal Body (India): NITI Aayog in coordination with WIPO.
4) India to Set Up Satellite Tracking Station in Mauritius
- India will establish a satellite tracking and data reception center near Diego Garcia, Mauritius.
- Aims to enhance space situational awareness, maritime surveillance, and regional security in the Indian Ocean.
- Strengthens India’s space diplomacy and Indo-Pacific strategy.
- Nodal Body: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
5) India Gets License for Polymetallic Sulphides Exploration
- India received an exploration license from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) in the Indian Ocean.
- PMS are rich in copper, zinc, gold, and silver, critical for clean energy technologies.
- India already holds exploration rights for Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
- Nodal Body: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
