Geography 

Dal Lake - The Hindu

• About: A popular lake situated in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountains.
• Other names: “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”.
• Size: Second-largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Area: 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) and is part of a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), including its floating gardens.

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• Raad: Floating gardens which blossom with lotus flowers duringJuly and August.
• Divided by causeways into four basins: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin (although Nagin is also considered an independent lake).
• Shoreline: About 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi) encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats, and hotels.
• Depth: Varies from 6 metres at its deepest to 2.5 metres at its shallowest. 
• Islands: 
  • Roph Lank (Silver Island): The island located on the Lakut Dal marked with the presence of Chinar trees at the four corners—Char-Chinari (Four Chinars).
  • Sone Lank (Gold Island): Located on the Bod Dal (Big Dal) and overlooks the holy shrine of Hazratbal.

Society 

PM to launch National Learning Week today—The Hindu

Prime Minister will launch the ‘Karmayogi Saptah’ — National Learning Week to impart fresh impetus towards individual and organisational capacity development for civil servants, his office said.

National Learning Week (NLW)

• About: The largest event of its kind, which aims to create a “One Government” message, align everyone with national goals, and promote lifelong learning, a statement said.
• Activities: Each “karmayogi” will commit to achieving a target of at least four hours of competency-linked learning. 
• Competition: The participants may complete the targeted hours through individual role-based modules on iGOT and webinars (public lectures/policy master classes).

Polity 

SC upholds Section 6A of Citizenship Act as valid - The Hindu/ Four issues in Assam verdict - Indian Express 

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in a 4:1 majority judgment on Thursday, upheld the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which permits immigrants from Bangladesh residing in Assam to secure Indian citizenship. The court held it as a valid piece of legislation aligned to the preambular value of fraternity.

On the exception to marital rape - The Hindu

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) has begun hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Exception 2 to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC). The challenge also extends, by implication, to Exception 2 of Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which supersedes the former provision. 

Lady Justice: Roots in ancient Greece, not always blindfolded - Indian Express 

The Supreme Court has unveiled a new statue of “Lady Justice”, reimagining the image — typically a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales in one hand and a sword in the other — that is synonymous with legal practice around the world.

World Affairs

What the killing of Yahya Sinwar means for Hamas and the war in Gaza—Indian Express 

The killing of Yahya Sinwar by Israel on Thursday might well be the most significant development in the year-long war in Gaza. Sinwar had been de facto chief of Hamas since 2017 and its man on the ground in Gaza. He was also in-charge of Hamas’s military operations and the alleged mastermind of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.

WHAT IS THE NEW 'CLICK-TO-CANCEL' RULE ANNOUNCED BY US FTC? Indian Express 

The United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will soon implement a “click-to-cancel” rule, which will make it significantly easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions and memberships and make companies liable to face civil penalties for complicating the cancellation process.

Economy 

India faces higher increase in energy demand over next decade: IEA - The Hindu 

India is poised to face a higher increase in energy demand than any other country over the next decade, mainly because of its size and the scale of rising demand from all sectors, the International Energy Agency (IEA ) said in its World Energy Outlook.

Defence

GE marine engines chosen to power Navy’s missile vessels—The Hindu

Six LM2500 marine gas turbine engine kits will be delivered by GE Aerospace for assembly and testing by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Industrial and Marine Gas Turbine Division in Bengaluru. Additionally, GE Aerospace will be supplying its composite base and enclosure and full complement of gas turbine auxiliary systems, GE said in a statement.

House panel to discuss readiness to deal with ‘non-kinetic warfare'—The Hindu

Indian armed forces’ preparedness to deal with “hybrid warfare” is one of the 17 subjects that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has narrowed down for deliberations for the year.