NEWS: Indian Prime Minister made the first-ever visit to Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993

CONTEXT

• India-Slovakia tiesà Comprehensive Partnership, with major agreements in defence, AI, digital technologies, higher education, labour mobility, counterterrorism, and scientific research.
• Slovakiaà Conferred its highest State honour, the Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, on PM Modi.

Slovakia

• Slovakiaà Landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary.
• Bratislava, located on banks of Danube River, is the capital.
• Became independent in 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia (the “Velvet Divorce“).
• Major rivers are the Danube, Váh, and Hron.