Weekly Brief 14-20/05/2025

1 . Blue Origin's NS-31

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

 mission marked a historic moment in space exploration by launching the first all-female crew into space since 1963. The New Shepard rocket carried six women, including Lauren Sánchez, Katy Perry, and Gayle King, on a suborbital flight from West Texas.

 This mission reached beyond the Kármán line, providing the crew with a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of Earth's curvature.

The flight was significant, highlighting the increasing participation of women in space travel and aiming to inspire future generations, particularly young girls, to pursue careers in STEM and other fields.

2 .QNu Labs, an Indian startup incubated at IIT Madras Research Park, has launched Q-Shield, described as the world's first unique platform designed to protect enterprises' critical infrastructure.

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

 The platform aims to provide seamless cryptography management across various environments, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid systems. Q-Shield incorporates QNu's patented Quantum Key Distribution (Armos),

Quantum Random Number Generator (Tropos), Quantum Hardware Security Module (QHSM), and NIST-compliant Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) to offer an end-to-end solution for securing data.

 The company states that Q-Shield empowers enterprises to protect their data and prepare for a quantum-secured future.

3 .Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as Bhim Jayanti, is an annual observance celebrated on April 14th to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956). Dr. Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and the principal architect of the Constitution of India.

He was a champion of the rights of Dalits (formerly known as "untouchables") and other socially marginalized groups.

 Ambedkar Jayanti is a public holiday in many parts of India and is marked by various events, including processions, seminars, and cultural programs.

4 .India has successfully tested a laser-based weapon system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

demonstrating its capability to shoot down drones. This achievement positions India among a select group of nations, including the US, Russia, and China, with this advanced technology.

 The laser weapon system is designed to counter aerial threats, particularly drones, and has the potential to revolutionize modern warfare due to its precision, speed, and cost-effectiveness.

5 .Rory McIlroy is currently making headlines due to his momentous victory at the 2025 Masters Tournament, which concluded on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

 This triumph was particularly significant as it allowed the Northern Irish golfer to complete the coveted Career Grand Slam, becoming only the sixth player in history to win all four major championships, a feat no other European player has achieved in the modern era.

 6 .Poila Boishakh, also known as Bengali New Year or Noboborsho, is the first day of the Bengali calendar and is being celebrated today, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

General Studies Paper-I (250 Marks) – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

 It is a significant cultural festival for Bengali communities worldwide, particularly in Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Jharkhand, and Assam.

Poila Boishakh marks the beginning of the new year with vibrant festivities, a sense of renewal, and hopeful beginnings

 The day is considered auspicious for starting new ventures and offering prayers for prosperity.

 Traditionally, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, and visit temples to seek blessings for the year ahead.

 A key ritual for businesses is the opening of new account books, known as "Haal Khata," symbolizing a fresh financial start.

 In Bangladesh, the "Mangal Shobhajatra," a vibrant procession with colorful masks and banners organized by the University of Dhaka, is a significant event recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

7 .DUSTLIK-VI

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

 refers to the sixth edition of the joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan. This exercise commenced on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune, India, and is scheduled to continue until April 28, 2025.

The primary focus of DUSTLIK-VI is on Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in a Semi-Urban Scenario, with an emphasis on responding to terrorist actions involving the capture of territory.

The exercise will also include the deployment of drones, counter-UAS measures, and logistics support from the Indian Air Force, as well as the use of helicopters for various missions.

8 .Finland,

General Studies Paper-I (250 Marks) – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

 located in Northern Europe and part of the Nordic region, borders Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the Baltic Sea. Known as the "Land of a Thousand Lakes," it has over 188,000 lakes and is 75% forested.

The climate is cold with long winters and mild summers, featuring natural wonders like the midnight sun and polar nights.

It includes regions like Lapland, the Åland Islands, and cities such as Helsinki, Espoo, and Turku. Historically ruled by Sweden and later Russia, Finland gained independence in 1917 and defended it during the Winter War.

 It joined the EU in 1995, adopted the euro in 2002, and became a NATO member in 2023. A parliamentary republic led by President Sauli Niinistö (as of 2023), Finland is known for strong welfare, gender equality, and low corruption.

 Its economy thrives on technology (Nokia, Rovio), forestry, and innovation, with strong trade ties to Germany and Sweden. Cultural highlights include sauna traditions, midsummer festivals, the Kalevala, and Finnish design.

Education is free and highly ranked globally, while the country leads in sustainability with a goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. With a population of 5.5 million, official languages are Finnish and Swedish.

 It consistently ranks as the world’s happiest country and is known for natural beauty, the Northern Lights, unique wildlife, and sports like ice hockey and Formula 1 racing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with the President of Finland Alexander Stubb today.

 During the conversation, both leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Ukraine.

They also reviewed the ongoing collaboration between the two countries, including in the areas of digitalization, sustainability and mobility.

 Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and deepen the partnership including in the areas of quantum, 5G-6G, Artificial Intelligence and cyber-security.

9 .World Art Dubai 2025,

General Studies Paper-I (250 Marks) – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

 the 11th edition, is a vibrant international art fair at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 17th to 20th, 2025  It features over 400 artists and 120+ galleries from 65+ countries, showcasing 10,000+ artworks priced from $100 to $20,000.

Expect diverse styles including contemporary, digital art (NFTs), and more, alongside live performances, workshops, and special hubs like the Textile Hub and Dubai Culture's showcase.

With affordable tickets (AED 30 daily adult), it's an accessible global art experience.

10 .The MacGregor Memorial Medal,

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management) 

a prestigious annual award presented by the United Service Institution of India (USI), recognizes outstanding contributions from Indian Armed Forces personnel in the realms of military reconnaissance, exploration, and adventure. Instituted in 1888 to commemorate Major General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, the founder of the USI, the medal initially honored exploratory journeys, particularly in regions of strategic importance.

 Following India's independence, its scope expanded in 1986 to encompass military expeditions and adventure activities.

As of April 2025, 127 medals have been awarded, with the most recent ceremony on April 16, 2025, where Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan bestowed the honor upon Wing Commander D. Panda and EA (Retd) Rahul Kumar Pandey for their mountaineering and ultra-running achievements in 2023, and upon Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, Chief EA (Retd) Ram Ratan Jat, and Sergeant Jhumar Ram Poonia for their remarkable feats in mountaineering and ultra-running in 2024.

11 .Hallucination:  

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

AI hallucination occurs when an artificial intelligence system generates incorrect, fabricated, or nonsensical information that is not based on reality or its training data.

This phenomenon is particularly common in large language models (LLMs) and generative AI systems, which produce outputs by predicting patterns rather than truly understanding facts.

For example, an AI might invent a fake historical event, provide a misleading answer to a factual question, or create an image with impossible features, like a cat with five legs.

These hallucinations happen because AI models prioritize generating fluent and plausible-sounding responses over factual accuracy, often filling in gaps when they encounter unfamiliar or ambiguous prompts.

Additionally, limitations in training data or over-optimization for coherence can lead the AI to confidently present false information as truth.

To mitigate this issue, users can refine their prompts for clarity, cross-check AI-generated answers with reliable sources, and rely on models that incorporate real-time data retrieval.

Despite ongoing improvements in AI technology, hallucinations remain a significant challenge, highlighting the importance of critical evaluation when using AI-generated content.

12.Chief Justice of India: CJI Sanjiv Khanna has formally recommended Justice B R Gavai to the Union Law Ministry as his successor, adhering to the established convention of the outgoing Chief Justice suggesting the next in line based on seniority.

Justice Gavai, currently the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, is poised to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Notably, he will be only the second individual from the Dalit community to hold this prestigious position, following in the footsteps of CJI K. G. Balakrishnan.

The transition is expected to occur on May 14, 2025, a day after Justice Khanna's scheduled retirement on May 13, 2025. However, Justice Gavai's tenure as Chief Justice will be relatively brief, as he is set to retire on November 23, 2025.

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