The last 24 hours have marked a series of significant diplomatic and domestic policy shifts for India. From a historic address on the global stage to major internal administrative reforms, here are the key highlights for competitive exam aspirants.
1. Prime Minister’s Historic Address to the Knesset
Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, in Tel Aviv. During his speech, he delivered a powerful message of solidarity, asserting that India stands firmly with Israel in the fight against terrorism. Key highlights include:
- Zero Tolerance: The PM reiterated India’s consistent policy of "zero tolerance" for terrorism with no double standards.
- Condolences: He expressed the deepest condolences of 1.4 billion Indians for the lives lost during the October 7, 2023, attacks.
- Diplomatic Milestone: This visit marks his first trip to Israel in nine years, emphasizing a "friendship, respect, and partnership" between the two nations.
2. Renaming of Kerala to 'Keralam'
In a major federal move, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, has approved the proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala to 'Keralam'. This decision follows unanimous resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2023 and 2024. For exam purposes, note the following:
- Constitutional Procedure: Under Article 3 of the Constitution, the President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislature before it is introduced in Parliament.
- Linguistic Significance: The change reflects the state's name in the Malayalam language and its cultural identity.
3. Launch of 'PRAHAAR' Counter-Terrorism Policy
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released India’s first-ever national counter-terrorism policy and strategy titled 'PRAHAAR' (meaning 'strike'). This policy outlines a proactive framework to address evolving security threats. The strategy is built on seven key pillars aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination, intelligence sharing, and curbing terror financing.
4. Defense: Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR and DHARMA GUARDIAN
India continues to strengthen its strategic defense ties through bilateral exercises:
- VAJRA PRAHAR 2026: The 16th edition of the India-USA Joint Special Forces Exercise commenced at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. It focuses on interoperability and counter-terror operations.
- DHARMA GUARDIAN: The 7th edition of the annual joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force is also underway, focusing on semi-urban warfare operations.
5. Judicial and Educational Updates
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Supreme Court took strong exception to a section in an NCERT Class VIII textbook regarding "corruption in the judiciary." Following the uproar, NCERT has apologized and halted the distribution of the book, stating that the section was "constitutionally impermissible" and defamed the institution.