25 July 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La)

WHY IN NEWS

U.S. President Donald Trump recently threatened heavy strikes on Iran's fortified Pickaxe Mountain, which is reportedly linked to the country's nuclear programme.

Location: Isfahan Province, Iran; part of the Zagros Mountain Range.

Why the site matters: The mountain reportedly contains a fortified underground facility associated with Iran's nuclear programme.

• The facility is believed to lie more than 100 metres beneath hard granite, giving it substantial natural protection.

• It is reportedly being developed for the production and assembly of advanced centrifuges used in uranium enrichment.

• The site includes two pairs of tunnel entrances, a completed security wall and reinforced underground infrastructure.

• Its depth and hard-granite geology make it difficult to target with conventional bunker-buster bombs.

• It is regarded as one of Iran's most heavily protected strategic sites.

LINKED GEOGRAPHY: ZAGROS MOUNTAINS

• One of the largest mountain ranges in Southwest Asia.

• Extend from northwestern Iran towards the Persian Gulf and continue into northeastern Iraq and southeastern Türkiye.

• Located mainly in Iran, with extensions into Iraq and a small part of southeastern Türkiye.

• Formed by the collision of the Arabian Plate with the Eurasian Plate.

• Characterised by fold mountains, limestone and granite formations, deep valleys and rugged terrain.

• Contain many peaks above 4,000 metres.

• Climate ranges from semi-arid and Mediterranean conditions to alpine conditions at higher elevations.

• Support oak forests, grasslands and rich biodiversity.

• Rich in petroleum and natural gas and form the source region of several important rivers.

• Support agriculture, pastoralism and mining.

QUICK RECALL

• Pickaxe Mountain: Isfahan Province, Iran.

• Mountain system: Zagros Range.

• Reported facility: more than 100 metres below hard granite.

• Zagros formation: Arabian Plate + Eurasian Plate.

Rome Declaration for an Unarmed and Disarming Peace

WHY IN NEWS

The Rome Declaration for an Unarmed and Disarming Peace was recently signed.

Core idea: An international declaration that combines responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence with the goal of global nuclear disarmament.

• Calls for an international treaty prohibiting autonomous AI systems from taking decisions on the launch of nuclear weapons.

• Seeks to protect human dignity, reduce existential technological risks and retain meaningful human control over strategic military decisions.

Adoption: Adopted during the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly and signed on 16 July.

Inspiration: Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which emphasises human dignity, ethical use of technology and prevention of technological overreach.

FIVE GLOBAL PILLARS

1. Meaningful Human Control: AI must not make the final decision on the use of nuclear weapons; human judgment must remain central to nuclear command and control.

2. Digital Commons Model: Promotes international data-sharing and collaboration to improve understanding and management of existential risks from unregulated AI.

3. Responsible Development: AI developers should publish ethical frameworks, avoid uncontrollable autonomous systems and align development with international norms.

4. Internal Arsenal Audits: Nuclear-armed states should review command systems and assess vulnerabilities to AI-driven cyber interference or manipulation.

5. Time-bound Disarmament: Supports verified, transparent and irreversible elimination of nuclear weapons through international negotiations.

SIX PRINCIPLES

• Disarming the Arms Race: Exercise restraint to prevent an AI-driven global arms race.

• Responsible Development: Ensure AI complies with international law, international humanitarian law and human-rights principles.

• Responsible Use: Apply AI for human welfare and sustainable development while discouraging harmful or destabilising military applications.

• Responsible Governance: Support coordinated international oversight and verification mechanisms for advanced AI systems.

• Responsible Leadership: Promote youth participation, AI-ethics education and intergenerational cooperation.

• Nuclear Disarmament: Seek verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons, reduced nuclear alert levels and stronger global disarmament efforts.

QUICK RECALL

• Theme: AI governance + nuclear disarmament.

• Non-negotiable principle: meaningful human control over nuclear decisions.

• Framework: five global pillars and six principles.

• Adopted at the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly.

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)

WHY IN NEWS  

The Union Minister for Culture recently informed the Lok Sabha about the implementation and objectives of KSVY.

What it is: An umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Culture to promote, preserve, protect and develop India's art and cultural heritage.

Who receives support: Eligible artists, cultural organisations, institutions, NGOs and individuals, especially those working in performing arts.

OBJECTIVES

• Promote and preserve India's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

• Provide financial assistance to artists and cultural institutions.

• Encourage cultural activities and artistic excellence.

• Strengthen cultural infrastructure across India.

• Expand public participation in cultural activities.

SUB-SCHEMES

• Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant).

• Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture.

• Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture.

• Financial Assistance for Construction of Tagore Cultural Complexes.

• Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists.

• Seva Bhoj Yojana.

• National Gandhi Heritage Site Mission.

• National Award Scheme.

HOW THE SCHEME WORKS

• Supports festivals, exhibitions, seminars, workshops and performing-arts events.

• Funds auditoriums, museums, cultural centres and modernisation of cultural infrastructure.

• Safeguards music, dance, theatre, handicrafts, folk traditions and rituals, including traditions recognised under UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage framework.

• Encourages participation by rural and tribal communities, underrepresented cultural groups and emerging artists.

• Covers all States and Union Territories to promote balanced cultural development.

QUICK RECALL

• Ministry: Ministry of Culture.

• Nature: umbrella scheme.

• Focus: heritage, artists, programmes, infrastructure and inclusion.

• Coverage: all States and Union Territories.

Digital Local Pass System

WHY IN NEWS  

NHAI has expanded the RajmargYatra mobile application by launching a Digital Local Pass System.

What it does: Allows eligible commuters to buy and renew monthly local toll passes digitally through the RajmargYatra App, without visiting a toll plaza.

Initial launch: Mundka-Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road-II, Delhi.

KEY FEATURES

• Eligible commuters can purchase or renew a monthly local pass directly through the app.

• Residents living within a 20-kilometre radius of an eligible toll plaza can use the pass.

• The pass permits unlimited travel through the relevant toll plaza for one month.

• Consent-based integration with DigiLocker and VAHAN retrieves verified residential address, vehicle registration and linked FASTag details.

• GIS-based validation confirms whether the applicant is an eligible local resident.

BENEFITS

• Removes the need for physical visits to toll plazas.

• Simplifies application and renewal and reduces paperwork and waiting time.

• Reduces congestion and improves transparency through digital verification.

• Supports Digital India initiatives in road transport.

ABOUT RAJMARGYATRA

• A citizen-centric mobile application developed by NHAI and integrated with a web-based platform.

• Supports highway-information updates, complaint monitoring and improved user experience on National Highways.

• Provides information on highways, toll plazas, FASTag services, nearby petrol pumps, hospitals, EV charging stations, weather and other traveller amenities.

• Also provides complaint registration and grievance redressal.

QUICK RECALL

• App: RajmargYatra.

• Agency: NHAI.

• Eligibility: residence within 20 km of an eligible toll plaza.

• Verification: DigiLocker + VAHAN + FASTag + GIS.