🌍 1. Powerful 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Russia’s Kamchatka Coast

• Magnitude: 8.8 on the Richter scale
• Location: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia’s Far East, along the Pacific Ring of Fire
• Tsunami Alerts: Issued in surrounding Pacific regions including Japan and Alaska
• Significance:
• One of the most powerful quakes in recent years.
• Kamchatka is a seismically active zone with frequent volcanic and tectonic activity.
• Impact: Reports of infrastructure damage and evacuations; monitoring for aftershocks underway.

🧑‍✈️ 2. IPS Officer Sanjay Singh Appointed as New Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

• New Position: DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
• About the Officer:
• 1989-batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
• Previously served in various intelligence, policing, and anti-Naxal operations.
• SSB's Role:
• One of India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
• Guards the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.
• Importance:
• Crucial for border security in challenging terrains.
• Key in counter-insurgency and cross-border crime prevention.

🐯 3. Assam’s Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Ranked 3rd Globally in Tiger Density

• Recognition: 3rd highest tiger density among global tiger reserves
• Location: Kaziranga National Park, Assam – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Current Density: 5.36 tigers per 100 sq. km
• Significance:
• Reflects successful conservation under Project Tiger and community involvement.
• Famous for its biodiversity – also home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses.
• Comparison:
• First: Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand
• Second: Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka

🌊 4. Lakshadweep’s Coral Reefs Witness 50% Decline in 24-Year Study

• Study Duration: 2000–2024 (24 years)
• Finding: Over 50% decline in coral cover due to climate change and human activity
• Threat Factors:
• Rising sea surface temperatures leading to coral bleaching.
• Pollution, coastal tourism, and unsustainable fishing practices.
• Why It Matters:
• Coral reefs are essential for marine biodiversity, coastal protection, and local livelihoods.
• Highlights the urgent need for marine ecosystem conservation in India's exclusive economic zones.

🪙 5. PM Modi Launches ₹1000 Commemorative Coin in Honour of Rajendra Chola I

• Occasion: Honoring the legacy of Emperor Rajendra Chola I, one of India’s greatest rulers.
• Coin Value: ₹1000 (commemorative, not for general circulation)
• Features:
• Depicts Rajendra Chola I seated on a throne, with inscriptions in Devanagari and Tamil.
• Highlights Chola naval expeditions and temple architecture.
• Historical Significance:
• Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 AD) expanded Indian influence as far as Southeast Asia.
• Established the Chola Navy, making it the first Indian maritime empire.
• Founder of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Context:
• Part of India’s efforts to revive awareness of ancient rulers and forgotten maritime heritage.