01 July 2026: PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS | Complete Exam Preparation

Prelims Current Affairs includes National Doctors Day 2026 (India), Italy Becomes The Unesco World Heritage Capital, Diksha Becomes “One Nation, One Digital Platform”, Kisan Sarathi Platform, India Approves First Offshore Airport In Maharashtra, Isro Conducts 175-Tonne Semicryogenic Engine Hot Test, India Climbs To Highest-Ever Rank In Un Sdg Index 2026, Pm Modi Receives Seychelles’ Highest Environmental Honour & Jonathan – The Giant Tortoise

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY 2026 (INDIA)

Current Context: National Doctors’ Day is observed across India on 1 July 2026 to honour the dedication, service, and contributions of doctors in safeguarding public health.

ABOUT THE DAY

Observed annually on 1 July in India.
First observed in 1991 instituted by the Government of India.
Celebrated in honour of Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India’s most distinguished physicians and statesmen.
Theme 2026: “Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers”
Dr B.C. Roy: Bharat Ratna awardee (1961), served as Chief Minister of West Bengal (1948-1962)

CULTURE & HERITAGE

2. ITALY BECOMES THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CAPITAL

Current Context: Italy has become the UNESCO World Heritage Capital after reaching 61 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the highest number recorded by any country in the world.

ABOUT ITALY’S UNESCO SITES

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) recognized for their cultural or natural significance.
Inscribed under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).
The World Heritage Committee decides the inscription of new sites.
Total sites: 61 (highest in the world)
Cultural Heritage Sites: 55
Natural Heritage Sites: 6
Latest UNESCO Site: Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia – Domus de Janas (2025)

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

3. DIKSHA BECOMES “ONE NATION, ONE DIGITAL PLATFORM”

Current Context: The Central Government positioned DIKSHA as India’s “One Nation, One Digital Platform” for school education.

ABOUT DIKSHA

DIKSHA stands for Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing.
It is the National Digital Infrastructure for School Education.
Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Education (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development).
Developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) with support from the EkStep Foundation.
It is available through a web portal and mobile application.
Content: Curriculum-based digital learning resources from foundational stage to Class 12
Languages: 36 Indian languages and 7 foreign languages
Features: QR-coded Energised Textbooks, educational videos, 2D/3D animations, augmented reality, virtual labs, Indian Sign Language videos
Teacher training: NISHTHA programme for professional development
About NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement)
Launched in 2019.
Implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education under the Samagra Shiksha
It is the world’s largest integrated teacher training programme.

AGRICULTURE

4. KISAN SARATHI PLATFORM

Current Context: Kisan Sarathi platform represents a significant step in the digital transformation of India’s agricultural extension system, providing information about 610 schemes to farmers.

ABOUT KISAN SARATHI PLATFORM

Kisan Sarathi is India’s largest integrated digital agro-advisory platform, providing farmers with timely, authentic, and multilingual agricultural advisories, weather updates, government scheme information, and expert consultations.
It continues to be expanded as a key component of India’s digital agriculture ecosystem.
Launched: July 2021
Joint initiative of: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Implementing agencies: Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute and Digital India Corporation
Technology: Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS) – enables two-way communication between farmers and experts
Languages: Live interaction in 13 regional languages
Connects farmers with: KVKs, ICAR institutes, agricultural universities

STATES IN NEWS

5. INDIA APPROVES FIRST OFFSHORE AIRPORT IN MAHARASHTRA

Current Context: India’s first offshore airport has been approved for preparation of a Detailed Project Report in Maharashtra.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Location: Kore beach, Palghar district, Maharashtra
Type: India’s first offshore airport, third international airport for Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Overseeing agency: Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation
Construction: Expected to begin in 2026; operations projected for early 2030s

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

6. ISRO CONDUCTS 175-TONNE SEMICRYOGENIC ENGINE HOT TEST

Current Context: ISRO successfully conducted a 175-tonne hot test of its Semicryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

ABOUT THE TEST

A high-thrust liquid rocket engine being developed indigenously by ISRO.
Designation: SE-2000 (approximately 2000 kN / 200-tonne thrust).
Developed primarily by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
Intended to power the SC120 booster stage of the upgraded LVM3 launch vehicle and future heavy-lift rockets.
Thrust achieved: 175 tonnes (≈88% of designed maximum capacity of 200 tonnes)
Propellants: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) + Purified Kerosene (Isrosene)
Significance: Critical milestone toward 200-tonne full-thrust demonstration

About SC120 STAGE

Designed as future core stage of LVM3 launch vehicle
Will replace current L110 liquid core stage
Advantages: Higher payload capacity, improved fuel efficiency, cleaner propellants, stronger indigenous capability

ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT

7. INDIA CLIMBS TO HIGHEST-EVER RANK IN UN SDG INDEX 2026

Current Context: India secured its highest-ever position in the global UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index in the 2026 edition.

ABOUT THE REPORT

India achieved its highest-ever position in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2026, climbing to 94th rank up from 99th in 2025 with an overall SDG score of 68.3/100.
Rise since 2015: 18 places (from 112th to 94th)
Major challenges in 7 SDGs: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Cities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice)
Hunger: 35.5% children under five stunted (2020), wasting increased to 19% (NFHS-6), India has highest wasting rate in the world
The top countries on the 2026 UN SDG Index:

Finland – 87.40
Sweden – 86.26
Denmark – 85.68

About THE SDG INDEX

Prepared by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
Measures countries’ progress towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

AWARDS

8. PM MODI RECEIVES SEYCHELLES’ HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL HONOUR

Current Context: PM Modi was conferred with Seychelles’ highest environmental honour, “Guardian of the Blue Horizon,” by President Dr. Patrick Herminie during his state visit.

ABOUT THE AWARD

Award: “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” – Seychelles’ highest environmental honour
Presented by: President Dr. Patrick Herminie
Recognizes: Leadership in environmental conservation, climate action, Blue Economy, sustainable ocean resource management, support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Significance: First time this prestigious distinction has been awarded

ENVIRONMENT

9. JONATHAN – THE GIANT TORTOISE

Current Context: During his official visit to the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, PM Modi interacted with and fed native giant tortoises, including Jonathan.

ABOUT JONATHAN

Species: Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
Age: Estimated 194 years old – world’s oldest living land animal (Guinness World Record)
Population concentration: Aldabra Atoll (UNESCO World Heritage site) – over 100,000 tortoises
Weight: 250-350 kg
Key features: Heavy dome-shaped shell (carapace), thick scales, ultra-slow metabolism, can survive weeks without food/water

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