Prelims Focus 25th July 2026

25/07/2026

9 3 minutes read

India Unveils Its First Air Taxi Prototype

In News: India’s inaugural full-scale prototype (PT-01) of the e200X which is an India’s first full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) has been unveiled by the ePlane Company, a start-up incubated by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

The commercial services will be introduced by 2028, at first with air ambulance services and then with passenger transport.
An electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft or eVTOL is an electric aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, and then transitioning into forward flight like a conventional airplane.
Unlike conventional aircraft, an eVTOLs does not need long runways. Most designs have several small propellers powered by electric motors rather than a single large rotor to lift off from relatively small spaces.

Pellet Guns

The Delhi Police has denied their reports that pellet guns were used in the student agitation at Jantar Mantar in the presence of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

They are one of the non-lethal crowd-control techniques used by police and military forces around the world. The other popular measures are tear gas, water cannon, pepper spray, taser guns, among others.
Hundreds of little lead pellets are in each cartridge and spread out when fired.
Pellet guns can be dangerous as the pellets can penetrate soft tissue, causing serious injuries, even though they are supposed to be used to reduce mortality rates; this is especially true when fired at close range or pelleting into sensitive body areas like the eyes.
The introduction of pellet guns in India dates back to 2010, when they were first used in the valley of Kashmir to replace live ammunition during unrest, as it is less lethal and help limit civilian casualties.
The security personnel must use minimum force while standing up, and in case they need to shoot, they must aim below the waist.
Indian security forces use pellet guns which are manufactured at the Ordnance Factory, Ishapore.
Pellet guns can be used for hunting and pest control, in addition to crowd control.

NATO Ankara Summit 2026

In News:The 2026 NATO Summit took place on July 7–8, 2026, at the Beştepe Presidential Complex in Ankara, Türkiye, hosted and chaired alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It brought together leaders from all 32 member states to address collective defense, defense spending, and industrial cooperation.

Key Decisions and Announcements

Defense Spending: Leaders reviewed progress toward The Hague commitment of reaching 5% of GDP in core defense investments by 2035, noting an increase of over USD 139 billion by European allies and Canada.
Industrial Capacity: Announced more than USD 50 billion in new joint procurements and launched the NATO Front Door for Industry platform to streamline defense manufacturing cooperation and trade.
Support for Ukraine: Pledged €70 billion in military equipment, training, and long-term assistance for Ukraine through 2026, with equivalent commitments outlined for 2027.
Collective Defense: Reaffirmed an ironclad dedication to Article 5 and a 360-degree deterrence posture addressing regional instability and long-term threats.

Security and Context

Second Turkish Summit: Marked the second time Türkiye hosted a formal NATO summit, following Istanbul in 2004.
Local Restrictions: The Ankara Governorship enforced local demonstration bans and route closures across the capital from June 28 through July 10, 2026, amid localized protests.

Bab el-Mandeb Strait

In News: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait faces severe security risks as Iran reportedly instructed Houthi rebels to prepare a closure of the route if the U.S. strikes Iranian power infrastructure, threatening global trade and energy supplies.

Strategic Importance

Geographical Link: Connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the Indian Ocean.
Trade Volume: Handles roughly 12–15% of global maritime trade and critical oil shipments.

Implications for India

Trade Impact: Over one-third of India’s total external trade transits through this corridor.
Economic Costs: Potential closures risk spiking fuel prices and forcing costly diversions via the Cape of Good Hope.