Introduction

The National War Memorial (Rashtriya Samar Smarak) was inaugurated in January 2019 to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who laid down their lives in the service of the nation since Independence. It is located in New Delhi, near India Gate, and serves as the country's foremost monument dedicated to its fallen heroes.

Architectural Design

The memorial is designed in the form of four concentric chakras, each representing a distinct value of the Indian Armed Forces.

Amar Chakra

The Amar Chakra forms the innermost circle of the memorial and houses the 15.5-metre-high obelisk along with the eternal flame (Amar Jyoti). It symbolises the immortality, courage, and eternal spirit of the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.

Veerta Chakra

Surrounding the Amar Chakra is the Veerta Chakra, which showcases six massive bronze murals depicting some of the most significant military operations and battle actions of the Indian Armed Forces. These murals celebrate the valour, bravery, and operational excellence of Indian soldiers.

Tyag Chakra

The Tyag Chakra consists of granite walls engraved with the names of every soldier who has laid down his or her life in the line of duty since Independence. It symbolises the selfless sacrifice and unwavering commitment of the nation's brave warriors.

Rakshak Chakra

The Rakshak Chakra, forming the outermost ring, is made up of more than 600 trees that create a protective green enclosure around the memorial. It represents the soldiers who stand as the protective shield of the nation, safeguarding India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Param Yodha Sthal

Adjacent to the main memorial is the Param Yodha Sthal, which honours all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest wartime gallantry award. Each hero is commemorated with a bronze statue, accompanied by informative plaques describing their extraordinary acts of courage and sacrifice.

Significance

The National War Memorial stands as a symbol of national gratitude, patriotism, and remembrance, preserving the legacy of India's fallen soldiers while inspiring future generations to uphold the values of service, courage, sacrifice, and duty toward the nation.

Introduction

Seychelles is an archipelagic island nation located in the western Indian Ocean. It lies northeast of Madagascar and east of the African mainland, making it strategically important in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Owing to its location along major maritime routes, Seychelles is an important partner for India under its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

Location

Seychelles is situated in the western Indian Ocean, surrounded by several island nations. It lies northeast of Madagascar, while Comoros and Mauritius are located to its south, and the Maldives lie to its east.

Political Features

The country consists of an archipelago of 115 islands, of which only eight are permanently inhabited. Its capital city is Victoria, located on Mahé Island, which is also the largest and most populated island.

Geographical Features

Climate

Seychelles experiences a tropical oceanic climate, characterised by warm temperatures throughout the year, high humidity, and very little seasonal temperature variation.

Island Groups

The country is divided into two major island groups.

The Mahé Group comprises mountainous granitic islands of volcanic origin, featuring narrow coastal plains, rocky terrain, and hilly interiors.

The second group consists of low-lying coralline islands, including coral atolls and elevated coral reefs, which are situated on the submarine Mascarene Plateau.

Highest Point

The highest peak in Seychelles is Morne Seychellois, located on Mahé Island, which forms part of the Morne Seychellois National Park.

Introduction

Lonar Lake, also known as the Lonar Crater, is located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra. It is one of the world's most unique geological formations and is internationally recognised as the only known meteorite impact crater lake formed in basaltic rock.

Formation

The lake lies within the Deccan Plateau, a vast region of volcanic basalt rock formed by massive volcanic eruptions about 65 million years ago. Although it was initially believed to be of volcanic origin, scientific studies have established that the crater was created by a meteorite impact around 50,000 years ago.

Unique Features

The crater is nearly circular and measures less than 1.6 km in diameter. It is the only known impact crater lake in basaltic rock as well as the only known saline crater lake in the world. The lake water is highly saline and alkaline, being about seven times saltier than seawater, mainly due to the surrounding basaltic geological formations.

Hydrology and Geology

The basin is surrounded by steep slopes and receives water from several perennial springs located around the crater. It also contains natural vents that release gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide, making it an important site for geological and geochemical studies.

Ecological Significance

One of the lake's most remarkable characteristics is the seasonal change in water colour from green to pink. This phenomenon is caused by the growth of salt-loving microorganisms (halophilic microbes) that flourish in the lake's saline and alkaline environment, making it an important site for microbial and astrobiological research.

Cultural Significance

The crater is surrounded by centuries-old temples, reflecting its historical and religious importance. Lonar Lake is mentioned in several Puranas and also finds reference in the Ain-i-Akbari, highlighting its significance in ancient Indian literature and medieval historical records.

Latest News

The Euclid Space Telescope has recently captured one of the most detailed views of the crowded central region of the Milky Way, revealing more than 60 million stars in a single image. The observation demonstrates Euclid’s ability to survey extremely dense regions of our galaxy while pursuing its broader mission to understand the large-scale structure of the Universe.

About Euclid Space Telescope

Euclid is a 1.2-metre space telescope launched in 2023 by the European Space Agency (ESA). It is specifically designed to study the “dark Universe”, particularly dark matter and dark energy, and to understand how the Universe has evolved over cosmic history.

Objectives

The primary objective of Euclid is to create a large-scale three-dimensional map of the Universe by observing billions of galaxies up to about 10 billion light-years away. This extensive survey will help scientists understand how galaxies and cosmic structures formed and evolved over time.

Euclid also studies how the Universe has expanded throughout cosmic history. By examining the distribution and shapes of galaxies, the mission seeks to improve our understanding of gravity, dark matter, and dark energy, which play major roles in shaping the Universe.

Scientific Payloads

Euclid carries two main scientific instruments, namely the Visible Instrument (VIS) and the Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP).

Visible Instrument (VIS)

The VIS instrument captures high-resolution images of galaxies in visible wavelengths. It is particularly important for measuring tiny distortions in galaxy shapes caused by gravitational lensing, which allows scientists to study the distribution of dark matter.

Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP)

The NISP instrument observes galaxies in near-infrared wavelengths and measures their spectroscopic properties and distances. These observations help determine how rapidly galaxies are receding and provide valuable information about the expansion of the Universe and the influence of dark energy.

The NISP instrument also includes contributions from NASA, particularly in the form of detector technology and sensor-chip electronics.

Significance

The Euclid mission is significant because it combines a wide field of view, high-resolution imaging, and infrared spectroscopy to investigate the fundamental structure and evolution of the Universe. Its observations are expected to provide crucial evidence for understanding the nature of dark matter and dark energy and the evolution of cosmic structures.

Latest News

Ukraine has recently claimed that its domestically developed FP-5 Flamingo long-range cruise missile struck a key Russian defence manufacturing facility in the Volgograd region.

About FP-5 Flamingo

The FP-5 Flamingo is a long-range, ground-launched cruise missile developed by the Ukrainian defence company Fire Point. It reportedly entered service in 2025 and is designed primarily for deep-precision strikes against fixed ground targets.

Key Features

Range and Payload

The missile has a reported range of up to 3,000 km and can carry a combat payload of up to 1,150 kg. It is designed to engage targets with fixed geographic coordinates and can operate during both day and night.

Speed and Flight Profile

The FP-5 has a reported maximum speed of around 950 km/h, while its cruising speed is approximately 650–700 km/h. Its low-altitude flight capability is intended to reduce the possibility of detection by enemy surveillance and air-defence systems.

Dimensions

The missile reportedly has a wingspan of about 6 metres and an estimated length of 12–14 metres, excluding the pitot tube.

Electronic Warfare Resistance

The missile is reportedly designed to maintain its ability to strike targets even in the presence of active electronic interference, increasing its effectiveness in contested electromagnetic environments.

Launch System and Cost

A major feature of the FP-5 Flamingo is its emphasis on relatively simple and economical deployment. It does not require an expensive specialised launch platform, while its reusable launchers can reduce operational costs and simplify deployment.