Prelims Current Affairs includes Centralised It-Enabled System (Cites) Project By Epfo, Academic Bank Of Credit (Abc), India’s Unemployment Rate Falls To 8-Year Low In 2025, National Investment And Infrastructure Fund (Niif), 29th National Conference On E-Governance 2026, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Becomes Iaf Vice Chief, Rimpac 2026 Maritime Exercise Begins In Hawaii  & Exercises Valiant Shield And Resilient Dragon

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

1. CENTRALISED IT-ENABLED SYSTEM (CITES) PROJECT BY EPFO

Current Context: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recently carried out a planned nationwide database consolidation under its Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES) project.

ABOUT CITES PROJECT

• It aims to replace the legacy decentralized IT architecture with a single, centralized, integrated system.
• Create a unified national database for EPFO members. Unified Digital Interface using existing UAN and password
• The existing EPFO system operated through over 120 independent regional databases.
• Members often had to approach the same regional office where their account was maintained.
• Administrative Authority: EPFO under Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • Established: 4 March 1952.
  • Governed by: Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
• Core Technical Architect: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)

EDUCATION

2. ACADEMIC BANK OF CREDIT (ABC)

Current Context: The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) are building a trusted digital ecosystem for academic records.

ABOUT ABC

• A national digital repository that stores the academic credits earned by students from recognised Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• Introduced as a key reform under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Managed by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Key Features:
  • Students receive unique ABC ID or APAAR ID linked to Aadhaar and DigiLocker
  • Credits can be accumulated, transferred, and redeemed across HEIs
  • Credits valid for maximum 7 years
  • Integration with SWAYAM (up to 40% of credits)
  • Multiple Entry and Exit (MEE) framework

About APAAR ID Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry

• A unique 12-digit lifelong digital student ID issued to learners across India. Launched: 2023.
• It serves as a student’s digital academic identity, storing academic records, achievements, certificates, scholarships, and co-curricular accomplishments throughout their educational journey.
• Introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Education in alignment with the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF).

ECONOMY

3. INDIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO 8-YEAR LOW IN 2025

Current Context: India’s unemployment rate fell to 3.1% in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the last eight years, according to NSO data.

ABOUT THE DATA

• Based on the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025.
• Published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Launched in 2017
• Unemployment rate (2025): 3.1% (lowest in 8 years)
• Urban female unemployment (2025): 6.4% (down from 10.8% in 2017-18)
• STATE-WISE URBAN FEMALE UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDS
• Sharp Increase:
  • Bihar: 6.2% → 16.8%
  • Himachal Pradesh: 13.7% → 18.3%
  • Rajasthan: 9.9% → 14.6%
• Strong Improvement:
  • Kerala: 27.5% → 6.7%
  • Maharashtra: 11.5% → 3.8%
  • Gujarat: 4.3% → 1.5%
• States With Higher Urban Female Unemployment
  • Arunachal Pradesh: 18.4%
  • Himachal Pradesh: 18.3%
  • Bihar: 16.8%
  • Nagaland: 15.7%
  • Rajasthan: 14.6%

ECONOMY

4. NATIONAL INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (NIIF)

Current Context: The Union Cabinet approved an additional Government of India investment commitment of Rs 30,000 crore towards new and upcoming funds of NIIF.

ABOUT NIIF

• India’s sovereign-linked alternative investment fund manager established to finance commercially viable infrastructure and strategic sectors.
• Functions as a fund-of-funds as well as a direct investment platform.
• Anchored by the Government of India, while mobilising long-term capital from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, multilateral institutions, and other institutional investors.
• Type: India’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund
• Registered with SEBI: Category II AIF (28 December 2015)
• Ownership: 49% by Indian government
• Assets under management: Over $5 billion
• Four funds under NIIF Umbrella:

1. 1. NIIF Master Fund: Largest infrastructure fund in India (roads, ports, airports, power)
   2. NIIF Private Markets Fund: Invests in third-party managed funds
   3. NIIF Strategic Opportunities Fund: Large-scale businesses and greenfield projects
   4. India-Japan Fund: Bilateral fund (target corpus: US$600 million, India 49%, Japan Bank for International Cooperation 51%)

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

5.  29TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON E-GOVERNANCE 2026

Current Context: The 29th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2026 will be held on 1-2 July 2026 at Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

• NCeG is the flagship annual conference of the Government of India on digital governance and administrative reforms.
• It facilitates the exchange of best practices, innovations, and emerging technologies in e-Governance.
• The conference was jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Government of Rajasthan.
• Jaipur Declaration on e-Governance 2026: To be adopted during the conference
• Knowledge Partners: NASSCOM and MNIT Jaipur

DEFENCE

6. AIR MARSHAL ASHUTOSH DIXIT BECOMES IAF VICE CHIEF

Current Context: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 51st Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 July 2026.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Position: 51st Vice Chief of the Air Staff
• Assumed charge: 1 July 2026
• Succeeded: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor
• Commissioned: 6 December 1986 (fighter stream) 

DEFENCE

7. RIMPAC 2026 MARITIME EXERCISE BEGINS IN HAWAII

Current Context: The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise began on 24 June 2026 and is scheduled to continue until 31 July 2026.

ABOUT RIMPAC 2026

• The world’s largest biennial multinational maritime exercise.
• Hosted by the United States Navy under the S. Pacific Fleet.
• Conducted primarily in and around the Hawaiian Islands and the surrounding Pacific Ocean.
• First conducted in 1971.
• Edition: 30th
• Participating nations: 30
• Type: Biennial maritime exercise; world’s largest international maritime exercise
• Led by: United States Pacific Fleet
• India is participating in RIMPAC 2026, but unlike RIMPAC 2024, it has not deployed any naval ship and is represented through ground and staff contingents.

DEFENCE

8. EXERCISES VALIANT SHIELD AND RESILIENT DRAGON

Current Context: The United States simultaneously kicked off two major Western Pacific military exercises: Valiant Shield 2026 and Resolute Dragon 26.

 ABOUT VALIANT SHIELD 2026

• Type: Biennial, high-intensity multinational field training exercise
• Launched: 2006 (initially U.S.-only, evolved into multilateral in 2024)
• Lead Nation: United States
• Core Participating Allies: Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
• Geographic Scope: Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Japan, Philippine Sea, Mariana Islands Range Complex

ABOUT RESILIENT DRAGON 26

• Type: Annual, bilateral field training exercise
• Nations: United States and Japan
• Focus: Island defence, joint multi-domain operations, command-and-control architectures
• Location: Kyushu and Nansei Islands, Japan

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