Axiom-4 mission

After spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his team returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

The mission involved 288 Earth orbits and multiple scientific experiments, strengthening India’s role in human spaceflight.

The Ghibli trend & AI images 

The internet was caught in a storm of Studio Ghibli’s style AI images after ChatGPT enabled users to generate the animated images free of cost. The moment reignited debates on copyright, ethics, and AI creativity. 

An old clip of Hayao Miyazaki resurfaced, where he called AI-generated animation an “insult to life itself” (2016).

Indian rupee hits record low against dollar

The Indian rupee breached the 90-mark against the US dollar for the 1st time, hitting a record low of 90.16, weighed down by uncertainty over Indo-US trade deal, sustained FPI outflows, and pressure from global currency movements.

The rupee has lost almost 6% of its value over the past year.

India’s 4 new labour codes

From Nov 21, India began implementing 4 labour codes, replacing 29 central labour laws.

The reforms aim to ease compliance, ensure uniform wage structures, and expand social security protections for workers.

Maha Kumbh and stampede deaths

In the early hours of Jan 29, a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj claimed at least 30 lives and injured over 60 others.

The incident occurred near the Sangam Nose as massive crowds converged for a ritual dip.

On Feb 15, another stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station killed at least 18 people and injured 15 others, after a surge of passengers rushed to board trains to Prayagraj where the Maha Kumbh was underway.

RCB’s IPL triumph and Bengaluru stampede

Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted history on June 3 by winning their first-ever IPL title.

The incident occurred near the Sangam Nose as massive crowds converged for a ritual dip.

On Feb 15, another stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station killed at least 18 people and injured 15 others, after a surge of passengers rushed to board trains to Prayagraj where the Maha Kumbh is underway.

Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor

After 26 civilians were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7.

The military operation targeted 9 locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Air India crash

Seconds after take-off on June 12, Air India Flight AI-171 crashed into a hostel building in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar.

The crash of the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner killed 241 of 242 people on board. An additional 19 people on the ground. This was India’s deadliest air crash ever. 

Aravalli Hills

Protests erupted over the government’s revised definition of the Aravalli Hills.

Under the new criteria, landforms must rise 100 metres above local relief to qualify as Aravallis, potentially excluding over 90% of the range across Rajasthan.

India wins Women’s World Cup

India’s women’s cricket team created history on Nov 2 by winning their 1st-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.

Defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at Navi Mumbai, the victory marked a defining moment for women’s sport in India.

Israel–Iran conflict and Gaza fallout

On June 13, Israel launched major strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, escalating regional tensions.

The United States later joined the operation, targeting fortified nuclear sites. After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire was announced on June 24, holding after sustained US pressure despite early violations.

A formal ceasefire in Gaza has been in effect since October 10, following the implementation of the first phase of a 20-point peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.