Prelims Current Affairs includes International Asteroid Day 2026, India Participates As Permanent Observer At 56th Oas General Assembly, Bangladesh Joins International Big Cat Alliance As 27th Member, India Joins Global Ai Opportunity Declaration, Fp-5 Flamingo Missile, E-Sushrut@Clinic Launched, New Gi-Tagged Tribal Crops Of Madhya Pradesh, Green Oscars 2026: Two Indian Women Win Whitley Awards & Shoolini Fair Inaugurated In Solan

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL ASTEROID DAY 2026

Current Context: International Asteroid Day is observed on 30 June to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard and to inform the public about crisis communication actions.

ABOUT THE DAY

• First celebrated in 2015.
• Officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2016 through
• Theme 2026: “Planetary Defence and Asteroid Impact Hazards”
• Date significance: Anniversary of Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russia (30 June 1908), Earth’s largest asteroid impact in recorded history
• 2029 – International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence: Declared by UN General Assembly in 2024.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. INDIA PARTICIPATES AS PERMANENT OBSERVER AT 56TH OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Current Context: India participated as a Permanent Observer in the 56th General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS), held in Panama City, Panama.

ABOUT THE EVENT

• India attended in its capacity as a Permanent Observer to the OAS.
• More than 70 countries, including India, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain, are Permanent Observers.
• India’s participation reflects its growing engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
• Theme: “The Americas United on the Bicentennial of the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama”

About THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS)

• The Organization of American States (OAS) was created to promote peace, cooperation, and collective security among the countries of the Americas after World War II.
• Established: 1948, Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA
• Founded through the Charter of the Organization of American States (Bogotá Charter).
• Membership: 34 independent countries of North, Central, South America and the Caribbean (Cuba remains a member but does not participate).

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. BANGLADESH JOINS INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE AS 27TH MEMBER

Current Context: Bangladesh has officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 27th member country, strengthening global cooperation for the conservation of big cats and their habitats.

ABOUT IBCA

• The membership was formalised on 24 June 2026.
• A treaty-based intergovernmental international organization dedicated to the conservation of big cats.
• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Members: 27 member countries; 5 observer countries
• Seven big cat species: Tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, puma
• Total range countries: 95

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. INDIA JOINS GLOBAL AI OPPORTUNITY DECLARATION

Current Context: India joined 34 other countries in endorsing the Global AI Opportunity Declaration (Joint Statement on AI Opportunity) at the 2nd Pax Silica Summit, held in Washington, D.C., USA, in June 2026.

ABOUT THE DECLARATION

• The declaration seeks to promote trusted, secure, resilient, and diversified Artificial Intelligence (AI) supply chains while encouraging innovation, economic growth, and international cooperation.
• Focuses on building a secure and resilient global AI ecosystem through international collaboration.

About PAX SILICA

• Pax Silica is a US-led international initiative focused on building secure, resilient, and trusted AI and advanced technology supply chains.
• It was launched by the US Department of State in December 2025.
• India joined officially: During AI Impact Summit in New Delhi (February 2026)

DEFENCE

5. FP-5 FLAMINGO MISSILE

Current Context: Ukraine claimed that its domestically developed FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles struck a key Russian defence manufacturing facility in the Volgograd region.

ABOUT FP-5 FLAMINGO MISSILE

• The FP-5 Flamingo is a ground-launched, long-range cruise missile developed by the Ukrainian defence company Fire Point.
• It was publicly unveiled in August 2025.
• It is designed for deep-precision strikes against strategic military and industrial targets.
• Developed by: Ukrainian defense company Fire Point
• Entered service: 2025

HEALTH

6.  E-SUSHRUT@CLINIC LAUNCHED

Current Context: Union Health Ministry is set to launch e-Sushrut@Clinic, a lightweight, cloud-based Hospital Management Information System for outpatient clinics.

ABOUT E-SUSHRUT@CLINIC

• e-Sushrut@Clinic of digital health initiatives to strengthen India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for Health (DPIH).
• A lightweight, cloud-based Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) designed for small outpatient clinics, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Health & Wellness Centres, sub-centres, and private clinics.
• Developed jointly by the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the platform aims to digitise small healthcare facilities and integrate them with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) ecosystem
• Features: Outpatient management, pharmacy, nursing modules, digitizes patient records, prescriptions, billing; supports online and offline functionalities

CULTURE & HERITAGE

7. NEW GI-TAGGED TRIBAL CROPS OF MADHYA PRADESH

Current Context: Four unique traditional crops of Madhya Pradesh, Sitahi Kutki, Nagdaman Kutki, Baigani Arhar, and Chhatriya Dhan have been granted the GI tag. 

ABOUT THE CROPS

• Sitahi Kutki & Nagdaman Kutki
• Type: Minor millets (highly nutritious, rich in dietary fiber, minerals, antioxidants)
• Key feature: Climate-resilient varieties
• Baigani Arhar
• Type: Local variety of pigeon pea (toor dal)
• Cultivated by: Baiga tribe (Dindori region) using organic, age-old tribal practices
• Key features: Higher protein content, distinct sweet flavor, shorter maturation cycle (5-6 months), shorter cooking time, high in fiber, iron, calcium, B-complex vitamins
• Chhatriya Dhan
• Type: Traditional rice variety
• Cultivated in: Wetlands of Jabalpur and Katni
• Key features: Distinct aroma and taste, retains bran layer (rich in vitamin B1/thiamine, essential minerals, healthy fats), balanced amino acid profile

CULTURE & HERITAGE

8. GREEN OSCARS 2026: TWO INDIAN WOMEN WIN WHITLEY AWARDS

Current Context: Two Indian women Parveen Shaikh and Dr. Barkha Subba won the 2026 Whitley Awards (popularly known as the ‘Green Oscars’) for their outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

• Popularly known as the “Green Oscars.” Instituted in 1994.
• Presented annually by the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a UK-based conservation charity.
• Recognises grassroots conservation leaders from the Global South working to protect biodiversity and support local communities.

INDIAN WINNERS

1. Parveen Shaikh

• Organization: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
• Conservation focus: Indian Skimmer (rare river bird in Chambal River ecosystem)
• Indian Skimmer, scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis, freshwater riverine bird found in India and South Asia. IUCN Status: Endangered.

2. Dr. Barkha Subba

• Organization: Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection (FOSEP), Darjeeling
• Conservation focus: Himalayan Salamander (ancient amphibian species)
• Himalayan Salamander, scientific Name: Tylototriton verrucosus, found in the eastern Himalayas, particularly Darjeeling and Sikkim.

HIMACHAL NEWS

9. SHOOLINI FAIR INAUGURATED IN SOLAN

Current Context: Health Minister Dr Dhani Ram Shandil inaugurated the three-day historic Shoolini Fair in Solan, dedicated to Maa Shoolini, the presiding deity of Solan.

ABOUT THE FAIR

• Celebrated annually in Solan, the city named after Goddess Shoolini.
• It has been celebrated for over 200 years
• Main attraction: Palanquin procession of the goddess
• Route: Begins at Maa Shoolini Temple → passes through major areas of Solan city → concludes at temple of her elder sister (Maa Durga) in Ganj Bazaar
• National-level status: The fair has been granted national-level status

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