State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 03 Nov 2025

Tri-Services Exercise ‘Trishul 2025’

Why in News

The Tri-Services Exercise ‘Trishul 2025’ will commence on November 3, 2025, led by the Indian Navy, integrating Army, Air Force, and maritime elements across the Sir Creek and desert sectors of Gujarat and Rajasthan, extending into the northern Arabian Sea.

Key Details

• The large-scale exercise is led by the Indian Navy, coordinated by the Western Naval Command, with active participation from the Army’s Southern Command, the Navy’s Western Command, and the IAF’s South Western Command.
• Aim of the Exercise:
  • Validate joint operational procedures.
  • Enhance interoperability among the three services..
  • Strengthen networked command integration for multi-domain operations.
    

Sir Creek 

• Location: Marshy estuarine area between Kutch (Gujarat, India) and Sindh (Pakistan), where the Rann of Kutch meets the Arabian Sea.
• Length: Approximately 96 km long tidal creek.
• Dispute: India–Pakistan boundary dispute — India considers the mid-channel as the border, while Pakistan claims the eastern bank.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Serves as a sensitive coastal security zone and strategic maritime boundary.
  • Crucial for naval and coastal surveillance, especially under Western Naval Command.
  • Rich in marine resources; potential Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) implications.
  • Environmentally significant — part of the Indus Delta ecosystem.

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI) 2025

Why in News?

On 2 November 2025, the annual International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is being observed under the auspices of the UNESCO with a special focus on “AI-facilitated Gender-Based Violence against Women Journalists.” The campaign this year draws attention to how artificial intelligence enables new forms of harassment and silencing of women in media.

Key Points

• The Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 in response to the killing of French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon in Mali.
• UNESCO’s Campaign: The organisation is rolling out its “CTRL + ALT + MUTE” awareness initiative to highlight vulnerabilities faced by women journalists and to mobilise action against impunity and digital violence.
• 2025 Theme: The focus on AI-enabled gender violence realises the fact that online abuse — including deepfakes, doxxing, and orchestrated trolling  has become a significant threat to women journalists’ safety and freedom.
• Global Data: Between 2006 and 2024, more than 1,700 journalists were killed globally; roughly nine out of ten such killings have not resulted in justice.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Founded: 1945 (Constitution came into force in 1946)
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Mandate: To promote international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture, and communication in order to foster peace, sustainable development, and human rights worldwide.
• Key Functions
  • Sets global norms and standards in its fields of expertise.
  • Develops tools and programmes for international cooperation.
  • Produces knowledge and supports evidence-based policymaking for member states.
  • Maintains networks of sites and institutions, such as World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Creative Cities.

LVM3-M5 Launch: ISRO Shoots Off India’s Heaviest Communication Satellite ‘GSAT-7R’

Why in News?

India’s space capabilities received a major upgrade on November 2, 2025, when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully deployed GSAT-7R, a next-generation communication satellite for the Indian Navy, using its LVM3-M5 heavy-lift rocket popularly known as ‘Bahubali’ from Sriharikota.

Key Points

About GSAT-7R

• Designed exclusively for the Indian Navy to modernize its maritime communication and command infrastructure.
• Fully indigenous, equipped with multi-band transponders to support voice, video, and data relay across surface, sub-surface, and aerial naval assets.
• Provides uninterrupted, encrypted connectivity across the entire Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Enhances real-time situational awareness, enabling joint coordination between ships, submarines, aircraft, and command centres.
• Acts as a force multiplier in India’s maritime domain awareness grid, ensuring secure and resilient communication during operations.
  

About the Launch Vehicle – LVM3-M5 (‘Bahubali’)

• India’s heaviest operational rocket, earlier known as GSLV Mk-III.
• Payload Capacity:
  • Up to 4,000 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
  • Up to 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Configuration: A three-stage launch system comprising:
  • S200 solid strap-on boosters for liftoff thrust.
  • L110 liquid core stage powered by twin Vikas engines.
  • C25 cryogenic upper stage — developed entirely in India.
• Serves as the baseline launcher for the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission, where its modified version is called Human-Rated LVM3 (HRLV).
• Nickname ‘Bahubali’ reflects its immense lifting strength and consistent reliability across missions.
  

Development Background

• The M5 mission is the fifth successful flight in the LVM3 series, continuing ISRO’s flawless streak with this vehicle.
• Follows earlier satellites like GSAT-7 (Rukmini) for the Navy and GSAT-7A for the Air Force, extending India’s defence communication capabilities