Explanation: Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully conducted three consecutive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. VSHORADS stands for Very Short-Range Air Defence System and it is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS). It is indigenously designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat under DRDO with other laboratories and production partners. It is a lightweight, short-range, surface-to-air missile used to destroy aircraft and helicopters. Maximum range is 8 kilometres and it can engage targets up to 4.5 kilometres altitude.

Explanation: 18-year-old Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi won gold in women’s individual compound event at the World Para Archery Championship 2025. She defeated world No. 1 Oznur Cure Girdi of Turkiye with a score of 146-143 in the final. This was her third medal at the Championships. She earlier won a mixed team bronze with Toman Kumar against Great Britain 152-149. She also won a silver medal in women’s compound open team event with Sarita, losing to Turkey in the final. Sheetal is an armless archer from Jammu and Kashmir, who shoots using her feet and chin. She had also won a Paralympics bronze medal in 2024 in the mixed team category.

Explanation: RailOne, the SuperApp of Indian Railways, crossed two crore downloads within eight months of its launch. The app surpassed five lakh ticket bookings per day in February 2026. It was developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems. It was launched by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 1 July. RailOne integrates services like reserved and unreserved ticketing, platform tickets, train enquiries, PNR status, and other passenger utilities. RailTech Policy promotes innovation by engaging startups, innovators, industry, and institutions for Indian Railways modernization.

Explanation: Recently, Denmark announced a ban on social media access for individuals below 15 years of age to protect children’s mental health and safety. Denmark is located in north-central Europe and is one of the Scandinavian countries. It also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, both situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares its land border with Germany to the south. Denmark is surrounded by the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Kattegat Bay, and Kiel Bay. The capital city of Denmark is Copenhagen.

Explanation: The 2025 Asia Power Index, published by the Lowy Institute, assesses Asian countries’ resources and influence, including nations as far north as Russia and as far into the Pacific as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The United States remains the leading power in Asia, with influence extending beyond any single administration. China is the second-most powerful, narrowing its gap with the US to the lowest since 2020, partly due to policies during the Donald Trump administration. India ranks third, surpassing Japan last year, with a comprehensive power score over 40 points, making it a “major power.” India’s economic, military, cultural, and geopolitical capabilities have grown modestly, though diplomatic and defence influence has not expanded equally.

Explanation: World Television Day is observed every year on 21 November, based on a 1996 United Nations General Assembly Resolution. The day recognises television as a vital medium for informing, educating, shaping public opinion and promoting global understanding. In India, the observance is led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) along with Prasar Bharati, the national public broadcaster. Doordarshan and All India Radio conduct special programmes to highlight television’s role in public service communication and national integration. India has over 230 million television households reaching nearly 900 million viewers, showing TV’s massive influence in awareness creation and participatory governance.

Explanation: Yard 18003 (Krishna), the first of three Cadet Training Ships (CTS), was launched on 16 February 2026 at Larsen & Toubro, Kattupalli, Chennai. The ship was launched by Mrs Anupama Chauhan in the presence of Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). It is indigenously designed and built and will be delivered to the Indian Navy by end 2026. The ships will train Officer Cadets, including women, and cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries at sea. The project strengthens indigenous shipbuilding under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

Explanation: As part of National Handicrafts Week, the Ministry of Textiles launched the Chaupal Program nationwide in New Delhi. The program aims to promote handicraft traditions, build entrepreneurship, and form sustainable handicraft clusters under the National Handicrafts Development Program (NHDP). Chaupals will be permanent district-level platforms in 100 handicraft aspirational districts for artisan enrolment, scheme awareness, skill development, and entrepreneurship over the plan period. Chaupal Kits with audio-visual materials and essential equipment were distributed to facilitate workshops, demonstrations, and digital onboarding of artisans.

Explanation: Exercise DESERT CYCLONEII concluded at Al-Hamra Training City, Abu Dhabi, from 1830 December. It was a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and UAE Land Forces, strengthening defence partnership and regional security. Training combined classroom instruction and field exercises, focusing on urban operations and sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate. Troops practiced urban combat, building clearance, IED awareness, casualty evacuation, first aid, heliborne operations, air assault missions, and platoon-level assaults. The exercise enhanced interoperability, operational synergy, and standardisation of tactics for future multinational operations.

Explanation: Lionel Messi won the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) Golden Boot with 29 goals and 19 assists for Inter Miami CF. This is Messi’s second full season with Inter Miami and he is Miami’s first Golden Boot winner. He outperformed Denis Bouanga and Sam Surridge to claim the award. Messi became the first Argentine to win the MLS Golden Boot since Taty Castellanos in 2021.