1. G7 Summit 2026 at Évian, France
Current Affairs: The 2026 G7 Summit is being hosted by France at Évian-les-Bains, focusing on AI governance, energy security, and geopolitical stability.
Factual Points:
(i) G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US.
(ii) The European Union participates as a non-enumerated member in all G7 meetings.
2. India–US Critical Minerals Framework & USIBC Task Force
Current Affairs: India and the US have strengthened cooperation on critical minerals and supply chains to support clean energy and semiconductor industries.
Factual Points:
(i) Critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements.
(ii) USIBC stands for the US–India Business Council.
3. India–France Strategic Cooperation
Current Affairs: India and France are expanding collaboration in defence, nuclear energy, AI, and the Indo-Pacific region.
Factual Points:
(i) The India–France Strategic Partnership was launched in 1998.
(ii) France supports India's bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
4. India–Slovakia Bilateral Relations
Current Affairs: India and Slovakia are enhancing ties in defence manufacturing, mobility, and technology cooperation.
Factual Points:
(i) Slovakia is a member of NATO and the European Union.
(ii) Its capital is Bratislava.
5. US–Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Current Affairs: Recent diplomatic engagements have focused on reducing tensions and exploring frameworks for regional stability.
Factual Points:
(i) Iran is located in West Asia and borders the Persian Gulf. (ii) Tehran is the capital of Iran.
6. US–Iran Nuclear Deal Negotiations
Current Affairs: Negotiations continue over Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief mechanisms.
Factual Points:
(i) The original nuclear deal is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
(ii) The JCPOA was signed in 2015.
7. India’s Goods Exports Reach Record High
Current Affairs: India's merchandise exports have touched record levels, supported by engineering goods, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
Factual Points:
(i) The Ministry of Commerce and Industry releases India's trade data.
(ii) Engineering goods constitute one of India's largest export categories.
8. India’s Employment Rate Trends
Current Affairs: Recent labour surveys indicate improvement in employment indicators and labour-force participation.
Factual Points:
(i) Employment data is published through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
(ii) PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
9. AI–Cloud Task Force Initiative
Current Affairs: India has proposed AI-cloud infrastructure initiatives to improve access to computing resources for startups and researchers.
Factual Points:
(i) Cloud computing provides on-demand access to servers, storage, and software.
(ii) AI models require high-performance computing resources, especially GPUs.
10. Drone Revolution and the Future of Warfare
Current Affairs: Recent conflicts have highlighted the growing role of drones in surveillance, logistics, and precision strikes.
Factual Points:
(i) Drones are also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
(ii) India regulates civilian drones through the Drone Rules, 2021.
11. AI-Powered Advances in Cancer Detection
Current Affairs: AI-based diagnostic tools are being increasingly used for early detection of cancers through imaging and pathology analysis.
Factual Points:
(i) Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. (ii) Early diagnosis significantly improves survival rates.
12. HPV Vaccine (Cervavac)
Current Affairs: India is promoting wider use of Cervavac to prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls.
Factual Points:
(i) Cervavac is India's first indigenously developed HPV vaccine.
(ii) It was developed by the Serum Institute of India in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology.