- The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) faced a drone strike amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia –
- Russia, in control of the facility, accused Ukraine of launching the attacks.
- The Zaporizhzhya NPP is located near Energodar in south-eastern Ukraine, it ranks as the largest NPP in Europe. The facility is owned and operated by Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy generating company.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear watchdog, provides technical assistance to the plant and conducts inspections to ensure compliance with international safety standards.
- Parivartan Chintan: A Tri-Service Conference –
- Parivartan Chintan, an upcoming Tri-Service Conference aimed at generating new and fresh ideas, initiatives, and reforms to propel Jointness and Integration efforts, is being held in New Delhi on 8th April 2024.
- It was chaired by Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan. It is the first-ever conference of the Heads of all Tri-Services Institutions.
- The post of CDS was created in 2019 on the recommendations of a committee of defence experts headed by Lt General DB Shekatkar. General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS in the country.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- His core function is to foster operational synergy among Indian military branches.
- Acts as Head Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of Defence.
- Single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister.
- Advisory role in Nuclear Command Authority.
- India Secures Sittwe Port Agreement –
- India has recently secured rights to operate the Sittwe port in Myanmar after Chabahar Port in Iran.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has given the green light to the proposal for India Ports Global (IPGL) to manage all operations at the port situated on the Kaladan River.
- Kaladan River is a river in eastern Mizoram State of India it also flows through Chin and Rakhine State of western Myanmar.
- In India, the Kaladan River is called the Chhimtuipui River. It acts as the border between India and Burma (Myanmar) .