1️⃣ Britain Announces Plan to Lower Voting Age from 18 to 16 Years

In a major democratic reform move, the United Kingdom has announced legislation to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 years, making it one of the few nations globally to grant suffrage to teenagers.

• Context: The change is expected to expand the electorate by nearly 1.5 million young voters, giving youth more influence in shaping national policies.
• Precedent: Scotland already allows 16-year-olds to vote in local and parliamentary elections since 2014. This is part of a broader push to make youth voices more integral to political discourse.
• Global Note: Countries like Austria, Brazil, Argentina, and parts of Germany already allow voting from age 16.
• This move is likely to spark similar debates in other democracies, including India, where the voting age was last changed in 1988 (from 21 to 18).

2️⃣ Tamil Nadu to Launch India’s First Hornbill Conservation Centre at Anamalai Tiger Reserve

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has announced the establishment of India’s first dedicated Hornbill Conservation Centre at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, located in the Western Ghats.

• Purpose: The centre will focus on the conservation of four species of hornbills found in the region, including the Great Indian Hornbill, which is near-threatened.
• Why it matters: Hornbills play a crucial ecological role as “forest gardeners,” dispersing seeds across vast forest areas.
• This initiative will include:
• Breeding and rehabilitation programs
• Community awareness campaigns
• Eco-tourism and research collaboration
• Global Context: Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have similar hornbill sanctuaries. This will be a first for India, a country home to 9 hornbill species.

3️⃣ L&T Energy Greentech to Build India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant in Haryana

L&T Energy Greentech, a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, has announced plans to set up India’s largest green hydrogen production facility in Hisar, Haryana.

• Capacity: The plant will produce 100,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, powered entirely by renewable energy sources.
• Why it matters: Green hydrogen is key to India’s net-zero target by 2070.
• This project supports the government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make India a global hub for hydrogen production and export.
• Significance: This will reduce dependence on fossil fuels in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, shipping, and fertilizers.
• India had earlier commissioned a pilot plant in Gujarat, but the Haryana project will be the largest of its kind to date.

4️⃣ Geological Survey of India Discovers Vast Reserve of Rare Earth Minerals in Rajasthan

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has discovered a significant reserve of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in Bhati Kheda, Rajasthan, marking a major strategic find for India’s critical mineral security.

• What are REEs? Rare Earth Elements are used in:
• Semiconductors
• EV batteries
• Wind turbines
• Missile systems
• Significance: India currently imports most REEs from China, which controls over 60% of global production. This discovery reduces strategic dependence.
• Background: Earlier finds in Andhra Pradesh (Chavara) and Jharkhand were smaller in comparison.
• The discovery aligns with India’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2023, which aims to secure minerals vital for energy transition and defence.

5️⃣ Meri Panchayat App Wins WISI 2025 Champion Award for Cultural Diversity

India’s grassroots innovation, the Meri Panchayat App, has been honored with the WISI (World Information Society Innovation) 2025 Champion Award under the Cultural Diversity category by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union).

• About the app: Developed under India’s Digital Panchayat initiative, the app enables:
• Local languages integration
• Direct civic engagement at village level
• Real-time monitoring of welfare schemes
• Cultural Impact: The app has been instrumental in preserving regional languages, digitizing oral traditions, and promoting local heritage tourism through community participation.
• India’s efforts toward decentralized digital governance are now being recognized as a global model.

6️⃣ India to Host the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025

In a major boost to Indian sports diplomacy, FIDE (International Chess Federation) has selected India as the host nation for the Chess World Cup 2025.

• Host City: Likely to be either Chennai or Delhi, both strong contenders with existing chess infrastructure.
• Why it matters:
• India is one of the fastest-growing chess nations.
• Home to Grandmasters like Viswanathan Anand, R Praggnanandhaa, and D Gukesh.
• India previously hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad in 2022 in Chennai, setting participation records.
• Hosting the World Cup places India at the heart of global chess diplomacy and boosts its ambitions to become a chess superpower by 2030.