Prelims Current Affairs includes World Intellectual Property Day 2026, The Atlas Drone Swarm System, Sco Defence Meet In Bishkek , India Approves ₹30 Billion Currency Swap For Maldives, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan App 2.0, Niti Aayog Gets New Leadership , Guntur Municipal Corporation Wins Unido Gem Award, General Upendra Dwivedi Gets Us Hall Of Fame Honour, Santiaguito Volcano & Kangra Eyes Heli-Skiing Hub In Dhauladhars

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY 2026

Current Context: World Intellectual Property Day 2026 is celebrated on 26 April highlighting how intellectual property rights protect innovation and support economic growth. 

ABOUT WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY

• Theme 2026:“IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate”
• Organized by:World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• Types of Intellectual Property Rights:
• Patents:Legal right granted to an inventor for a new invention (e.g., innovative sports equipment)
• Trademarks:Protect brand identity (logos, names, slogans)
• Copyright:Protects books, music, films, sports broadcasts
• Industrial Designs:Protect visual appearance of products
• Key Law in India:Indian Patents Act, 1970

INTERNATIONAL

2. THE ATLAS DRONE SWARM SYSTEM

Current Context: China recently unveiled the Atlas drone swarm system, a state-of-the-art military asset capable of launching and controlling nearly 100 drones through a single human operator.

ABOUT THE ATLAS DRONE SWARM SYSTEM

• Type:Independent, mobile drone swarm operations unit (mini-battlefield network on wheels)
• Key Specifications:
  • Carries up to 96 small- and medium-sized drones
  • Launch interval: Less than 3 seconds between each drone
  • All 96 drones airborne within 300 seconds (5 minutes)
  • Single operator manages entire swarm
• Unit Structure:
  • Swarm-2 ground combat vehicle
  • Command vehicle
  • Support vehicle
• Key Features:
  • Autonomous control with cognitive intelligence
  • Drones can execute multiple strikes and adjust formations without constant human intervention
  • Small and independent (easy to hide and camouflage)

INTERNATIONAL

3. SCO DEFENCE MEET IN BISHKEK

Current Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 27-28 to participate in the Defence Ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

ABOUT THE MEETING

• Major Agenda:Regional security challenges, terrorism, extremism, geopolitical environment across Eurasia and Asia
• About SCO:
  • Founded in 2001
  • Focuses on political, economic, and security cooperation
  • India and Pakistan became full members in 2017
  • Members include: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Central Asian nations

ECONOMY

4.  INDIA APPROVES ₹30 BILLION CURRENCY SWAP FOR MALDIVES

Current Context: India has approved a ₹30 billion currency swap facility for the Maldives under the SAARC framework to boost economic stability.

ABOUT THE CURRENCY SWAP

• Framework:SAARC Currency Swap Framework (2024-2027)
• Window:INR Swap Window
• SAARC Currency Swap Framework:
  • Introduced in 2012
  • Helps member countries manage short-term foreign exchange shortages
  • Provides quick access to foreign currency liquidity
  • Reduces dependence on costly international borrowing
• Total support extended by India to Maldives under this framework:Over $1.1 billion

SCHEMES

5. NASHA MUKT BHARAT ABHIYAAN APP 2.0

Current Context: The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is set to launch the upgraded Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) App 2.0 to strengthen monitoring under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).

ABOUT NASHA MUKT BHARAT ABHIYAAN

• Launched:August 15, 2020
• Ministry:Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Initially launched in:272 most vulnerable districts
• Extended to all districts:August 15, 2023
• Key Features of NMBA App 2.0:
  • Citizens can undertake e-Pledge, access IEC material, helpline support, de-addiction centre details
  • Real-time reporting and monitoring of activities at de-addiction facilities
  • Anudan (Grant) status accessible to DoSJE, States/UTs, and GIAs
  • Allows users to identify nearest de-addiction centre

APPOINTMENT

6. NITI AAYOG GETS NEW LEADERSHIP

Current Context: The Union government is set to appoint former Chief Economic Adviser Ashok Lahiri as the new Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, replacing Suman Bery.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS

• New Vice-Chairman:Ashok Lahiri (former Chief Economic Adviser, currently BJP MLA from Balurghat, West Bengal)
• New Member:Gobardhan Das (Director, IISER Bhopal, former JNU professor)
• About Ashok Lahiri:
  • Taught at Delhi School of Economics
  • Worked with World Bank and IMF
  • Served as Chief Economic Adviser to Government of India
  • Headed National Institute of Public Finance and Policy
  • Member of 15th Finance Commission
• About NITI Aayog:Established on January 1, 2015, replacing the Planning Commission

AWARDS

7. GUNTUR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION WINS UNIDO GEM AWARD

Current Context: Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) has won the 4th Gender Equality Mobilisation (GEM) Award presented by UNIDO in Vienna.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Presented by:United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
• Initiative Recognized:Deploying more than 200 women as electric auto drivers for door-to-door garbage collection
• Project Framework:Sustainable Cities Integrated Approach Pilot (SCIAP) – promotes zero-emission waste management using electric vehicles
• Present at Ceremony:Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen and senior UNIDO officials

AWARDS

8. GENERAL UPENDRA DWIVEDI GETS US HALL OF FAME HONOUR

Current Context: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has been inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College in Pennsylvania.

ABOUT THE HONOUR

• Recipient:General Upendra Dwivedi (Chief of Army Staff)
• Institution:US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
• Distinction:Only third Indian Army chief to receive this honour
• Previous Indian Army Chiefs honoured:
  • General V.K. Singh
  • General Bikram Singh
• Purpose of Visit:Addressed faculty and international student officers on leadership, professional military education, and global security challenges

PLACES IN NEWS

9. SANTIAGUITO VOLCANO

Current Context: A group of hikers were forced to flee as Guatemala’s Santiaguito Volcano erupted recently, throwing rocks into the air around them.

ABOUT SANTIAGUITO VOLCANO

• Location:Western Guatemala, near Quetzaltenango city
• Height:Approximately 2,500 metres (8,202 feet)
• Type:Active lava-dome complex
• Formation:Created in the wake of Santa María Volcano’s 1902 eruption (one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century, killed ~5,000 people)
• Age:Youngest dome, created around 1922
• Structure:Currently has four craters, one active, resembles a large rock with multiple peaks
• Activity:One of the most active volcanic areas in Guatemala and worldwide, continuous explosions (mostly minor); sometimes emits lava and pyroclastic flows
• Notable Eruptions:
• 1929:Deadliest explosion – over 2,500 people killed
• April 25, 2010:10 people killed by falling rocks

HIMACHAL NEWS

10. KANGRA EYES HELI-SKIING HUB IN DHAULADHARS

Current Context: In a bid to boost adventure tourism in Kangra, the District Tourism Department has identified two potential sites Jalsu Pass and Toral Pass in the Dhauladhar mountain range for promoting heli-skiing activities.

ABOUT THE HELI-SKING INITIATIVE

• Location:Dhauladhar mountain range, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh
• Purpose:Boost adventure tourism, attract high-end tourists from across the country and abroad

THE TWO POTENTIAL SITES

• Jalsu Pass
  • Elevation:3,600 metres
  • Connects:Kangra and Chamba
  • Known for:Vast snowfields, challenging slopes, traditional route of Gaddi shepherds
• Toral Pass
  • Elevation:4,575 metres
  • Significance:One of the most challenging passes; rarely crossed by hikers; mostly used by local shepherds
  • Features:Pristine snow-covered slopes, scenic surroundings

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Base Location:Rakkar helipad near Dharamsala (best available site)
• Flight Time:Less than 10 minutes from Rakkar to the two passes

WHAT IS HELI-SKIING?

• Definition:Skiers are flown by helicopter to mountain summits before descending pristine slopes covered in powdery snow
• Thrilling and exclusive form of adventure tourism

HELI-SKING IN HIMACHAL (EXISTING LOCATIONS)

• Manali:Slopes of Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Deo Tibba, Chandrakhani Pass

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