Kerch Strait 

• Ukraine recently took responsibility for an underwater explosion that damaged the Kerch Bridge. 
• The 19 km bridge over the Kerch Strait connects Russia with the Crimean Peninsula, forming a crucial transport link. 
• The Kerch Strait lies between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea and is a key export route for Russian grain, crude oil, LNG, and fuel. 
• A strait is a narrow water body connecting two larger water bodies, vital for maritime trade routes. 

 Article 311 

• The Jammu &Kashmir Lieutenant Governor dismissed three government employees under Article 311(2)(c) for alleged terror links. 
• Article 311(2) provides the right to an informed inquiry before dismissal or demotion for those in All India Services or civil roles under the Union/State. 
• No inquiry is needed if the person is convicted, inquiry is impractical, or if the President/Governor believes it is against the state’s security interest. 
• Provisions under Article 311 are enforceable in a court of law. 

Polar Research Vessel (PRV)

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) of India and Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, Oslo (Kongsberg Oslo) of Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build India’s first indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV). 
• The MoU was signed in Oslo, Norway, in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. 
• The PRV will be equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments for deep ocean exploration, marine ecosystem studies, and environmental research. 
• The project aligns with India’s maritime vision MAHASAGAR (Maritime Advancement for Holistic Advancement and Sustainable Growth for All Round development), promoting scientific innovation and sustainability.