Daily Current Affairs (28 – Aug – 25)

Daily Current Affairs  (28 – Aug – 25)

1. Project 17A: INS Himgiri & INS Udaygiri –

• Two advanced Nilgiri-class (Project 17Alpha (P-17A)) multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri have been commissioned, marking a significant step in India’s naval modernization 
• Project 17A:P17A ships feature enhanced stealth capabilities compared to their predecessors P17 (Shivalik) class, with improvements in hull design and weapon systems.
• The seven ships under Project 17A, are INS Nilgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri, INS Taragiri, INS Mahendragiri, INS Dunagiri, and INS Vindhyagiri.
• The Project 17A design incorporates ‘State of the Art’ weapons and sensors that include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire Close-in Weapon Systems.
• These multi-mission frigates are designed to operate in a ‘Blue Water’ environment, meaning they can handle both conventional and non-conventional threats within India’s maritime interests.
• An Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) is also installed to optimize the ship’s functionality and crew coordination.
• The ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) main propulsion plants, comprising a Diesel Engine and Gas turbine, driving a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft.
• INS Himgiri:First P-17A stealth frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
• INS Udaygiri:Second P-17A stealth frigate built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), also the 100th ship designed by Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
• Capabilities: Equipped with BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 missiles, LRSAM, torpedoes, rocket launchers, advanced radars, and Shakti Electronic Warfare Suite.

2. India- US 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue –

• India and the US held the 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue (a mid-cycle review of the broader 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue), focusing on advancing a new 10-year defense framework to boost defense production, while also strengthening trade and energy security.
• Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under the US-India COMPACT(Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) framework and reaffirmed their commitment to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Indo-Pacific through the Quad.
• It is important as India is set to host the 2025 Quad Leaders Summit, with the US, Japan, and Australia reaffirming their commitment to a stronger Indo-Pacific.
• 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue:It is an annual diplomatic summit, initiated in 2018, originally between India and the US. It later expanded to include Japan, Australia, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
• The dialogue, involving the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the participating countries, focuses on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing shared security concerns. 

3. Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2025 –

• The Indian Army, as part of its Decade of Transformation, has launched the Terrier Cyber Quest 2025. This national-level challenge aims to tackle real defence and cybersecurity threats.
• The event is held in New Delhi with collaboration from IIT Madras, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC), and CyberPeace. It invites India’s brightest minds from academia, industry, and government to innovate in critical technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Quantum Computing, and Drone Technology.
• The competition underlines the importance of a strong digital defence strategy and encourages skilled individuals to become digital warriors.

Objectives

• The Terrier Cyber Quest 2025 focuses on encouraging indigenous innovation in quantum machine learning and cybersecurity. It promotes critical thinking and prototype development to strengthen national security and defence technology infrastructure. The event offers a platform for participants to directly contribute to national defence through technology-driven solutions.

4. Maruti Suzuki e-VITARA Electric Vehicle –

• India marked milestone in green mobility with the launch of Maruti Suzuki’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e-VITARA, and a lithium-ion battery production facility in Hansalpur, Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, denoting India’s growing role in sustainable transportation and the Make in India initiative.
• The e-VITARA will be manufactured domestically and exported to over 100 countries, showcasing India’s expanding footprint in the global electric vehicle (EV) market.

Strategic Importance

• The launch took place at Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur plant, a symbol of the India-Japan industrial partnership. The lithium-ion battery facility, a joint venture with Suzuki, Toshiba, and Denso, will produce hybrid battery electrodes locally.
• This reduces India’s dependence on imports and supports the government’s push for self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Prime Minister referred to the event as a new chapter in India’s Make in India journey, coinciding with Ganesh Utsav.

5. Sudarshan Chakra Air Defence Mission –

• The Sudarshan Chakra mission was announced as India’s indigenous multi-layered air defence system. It aims to protect strategic, civilian, and national sites from enemy aerial threats.  The project integrates advanced technologies and a whole-of-nation approach to ensure robust national security.

Mission Overview

• Sudarshan Chakra is designed as India’s equivalent to Israel’s Iron Dome. It combines detection, acquisition, and neutralisation of enemy air vectors. The system uses both soft kills—electronic and cyber measures that disable threats—and hard kills such as missiles and lasers. The goal is to create a shield and sword to defend against missiles, aircraft, and drones.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. Vibrant Villages Programme is implemented by which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Rural Development
2. b) Ministry of Home Affairs
3. c) Ministry of Finance
4. d) Ministry of Urban Development

Q2. PM SVANidhi Yojana was launched by which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Finance
2. b) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
3. c) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
4. d) Ministry of Urban Development

Q3. INS Udaygiri was built by which shipyard under the Project 17 ?

1. a) Cochin Shipyard Limited
2. b) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
3. c) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), Mumbai
4. d) Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam

Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Gaganyaan mission?

1. It will carry a 3-member crew to a 400 km orbit for a 7-day mission.
2. The Launch Vehicle used will be the LVM-3, formerly known as GSLV Mk-III.
3. The Crew Module and Service Module together form the Orbital Module.

Select the correct code:

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 3 only
4. d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect – The mission is planned for 3 days, not 7.
• Statement 2 is correct – LVM-3, previously called GSLV Mk-III, is the launch vehicle.
• Statement 3 is correct – The Orbital Module includes both the Crew Module and Service Module.

Q5. Consider the following conditions:

1. Must be a citizen of India
2. Must have been a judge of a High Court for at least 5 years
3. Must be at least 45 years of age
4. Must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist

Which of the above are constitutional qualifications for appointment as a Supreme Court judge ?

1. a) 1, 2 and 4 only
2. b) 1, 3 and 4 only
3. c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
4. d) 1, 2 only

Explanation-

• As perArticle 124(3) of the Constitution, a person must:
• Be a citizen of India Have been a High Court judge for at least five years OR have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years (not mentioned in the question)
• OR be a distinguished jurist in the President’s opinion There is no minimum age(like 45 years) prescribed in the Constitution