1. India–Singapore Conduct ‘Bold Kurukshetra 2025’ Joint Military Exercise in Jodhpur
The 15th edition of the India–Singapore bilateral army exercise, ‘Bold Kurukshetra 2025’, was held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This annual wargame, initiated in 2005 under the Defence Cooperation Agreement, aims to enhance military interoperability and joint combat readiness.
- The focus of this edition was mechanized warfare and urban combat scenarios, reflecting evolving battlefield requirements.
- The exercise also strengthens ties with Singapore, a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, amid increasing maritime and security cooperation.
2. Geetanjali Shree Wins 2025 PEN Translate Prize for Once Elephants Lived Here
Renowned Hindi author Geetanjali Shree was awarded the 2025 PEN Translate Prize for her latest work, Once Elephants Lived Here.
- The English translation, lauded for its lyrical prose and cultural depth, was done by acclaimed translator Daisy Rockwell, who earlier translated Shree’s Booker International-winning novel Tomb of Sand (2022), the first Hindi work to earn that honour.
- The new novel explores memory, loss, and the ecological impact of human expansion, rooted in India's oral and folk traditions.
- This prize further cements Geetanjali Shree’s global standing as a leading literary voice from South Asia.
3. Anahat Singh Wins Bronze at 2025 World Junior Squash Championship
India’s squash prodigy Anahat Singh, aged just 17, clinched the bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championship 2025, held in Houston, USA.
- She is the first Indian girl in over a decade to reach the semi-finals at the junior world level, continuing her steady rise in the international squash circuit.
- Anahat previously represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the age of 14, and recently won the India Open 2025.
- Her consistent performances reflect a growing squash culture in India, once dominated by names like Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal.
4. Professor Uma Kanjilal Appointed as First Woman Vice Chancellor of IGNOU
Prof. Uma Kanjilal created history by becoming the first woman Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the world’s largest open university.
- A senior academic in Library & Information Sciences and former Pro-Vice Chancellor, she has played a key role in digital education initiatives like SWAYAM and Virtual Open Classrooms.
- Her appointment marks a significant milestone in gender representation in Indian higher education leadership, particularly in distance and open learning.
- Founded in 1985, IGNOU has over 3 million students and is a pioneer in democratizing education across rural and marginalized communities.
