Prelims Current Affairs includes World Zoonoses Day 2026, Lokos Platform, India’s Passport Ranked 125th In Global Passport Index 2026, Ncw Women Helpline 14490, Hayabusa2 Performs Torifune Asteroid Flyby, Isro Conducts First Solve Ground Test For Gaganyaan, Icc Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Youngest India Debutant & Harshavardhan G.B. Becomes India’s 97th Grandmaster

IMPORTANT DAYS 

1. WORLD ZOONOSES DAY 2026

Current Context: World Zoonoses Day is observed on 6 July to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases and their prevention.

• Commemorates:Louis Pasteur’s successful administration of the first rabies vaccine on 6 July 1885
• Objective:To educate people about diseases that spread between animals and humans; promote prevention, early detection, and coordinated action

Common Zoonotic Diseases:

• Viral:Rabies, COVID-19, Ebola, Lassa Fever, Avian Influenza
• Bacterial:Anthrax, Brucellosis, Bovine Tuberculosis, Leptospirosis
• Parasitic:Toxoplasmosis, Leishmaniasis
• Fungal:Ringworm

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

2. LOKOS PLATFORM

Current Context: LokOS platform has significantly expanded its reach across India, enabling large-scale digital transformation of community institutions.

ABOUT LOKOS PLATFORM

• LokOS is a national Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform for Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)
• LokOS is a flagship digital governance platform developed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to digitally empower Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations across India.
• The platform has been continuously expanded with 30+ integrated applications, including modules such as SHE-LEAPS, Lakhpati Didi, Digital Aajeevika Register, Training Management, GramNidhi, and Bank Linkage, to strengthen rural livelihoods and promote paperless governance
• Full Form:Lok = People, OS = Operating System

Key Features:

• End-to-End Digital Management of SHGs, VOs, CLFs, and members
• Generates Aadhaar- and bank-linked digital identities
• Digital financial records (savings, loans, repayments)
• Supports:Lakhpati Didi initiative through outreach, beneficiary tracking, and digital monitoring

REPORTS/INDICES

3.  INDIA’S PASSPORT RANKED 125TH IN GLOBAL PASSPORT INDEX 2026

Current Context: India ranked 125th out of 197 countries in Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, slipping one position despite highest score in 5 years.

ABOUT GLOBAL PASSPORT INDEX 2026

• India’s Rank:125th (slipped from 124th in 2025)
• India’s Score:1 (highest in last 5 years)
• Visa-Free Access:~26 destinations (Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Barbados, Macau, Tunisia, Angola, Palestine)

TOP-RANKED COUNTRIES (2026)

• 1st: Sweden
• 2nd: Switzerland
• 3rd: Finland
• 4th: Germany, Netherlands and Denmark (joint)

Comparison with Neighbours:

• Pakistan: 188th
• China: 104th

Difference from Henley Passport Index:

• Henley Index: Focuses only on visa-free access
• Global Passport Index: Considers mobility, quality of life, and investment opportunities

About THE GLOBAL PASSPORT INDEX

• Published By: Global Citizen Solutions
• Edition: 5th Edition (2026)

WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

4. NCW WOMEN HELPLINE 14490

• Current Context:The National Commission for Women (NCW) is promoting its 24×7 Women Helpline – 14490 as a dedicated, toll-free national helpline to provide immediate assistance, complaint registration, counselling, and referral services for women facing violence or distress.
• The helpline serves as an easy-to-remember short code linked to NCW’s digital complaint system and is a key initiative under the Government’s efforts to strengthen women’s safety and access to justice.
• Operated by:National Commission for Women (NCW)
• Linked to:Existing helpline 7827170170
• Eligibility:Women aged 18 years and above

About NCW

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) is the apex statutory body of the Government of India for protecting and promoting the rights and interests of women.
• It acts as a watchdog, advisory body, and grievance redressal mechanism on issues affecting women.

Established: 31 January 1992

• Established Under: National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (Act No. 20 of 1990)
• Type: Statutory Body
• Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development
• Headquarters: New Delhi

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

5. HAYABUSA2 PERFORMS TORIFUNE ASTEROID FLYBY

Current Context: Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully performed a high-speed flyby of the near-Earth asteroid (98943) Torifune on 5 July 2026 as part of its extended mission.

• During the encounter, the spacecraft passed as close as about 1 km from the asteroid while travelling at a relative speed of about 5 km/s (≈18,000 km/h), collecting valuable scientific data for asteroid research and planetary defence.

Significance:

• Part of planetary defence research
• Tested rapid reconnaissance methods and high-precision guidance technology
• Next target: Asteroid 1998 KY26 (2031)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

6. ISRO CONDUCTS FIRST SOLVE GROUND TEST FOR GAGANYAAN

Current Context: The ISRO successfully conducted the first ground test of the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) solid motor on 3 July 2026 at the Static Test Facility, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota.

• The successful test marks a significant milestone in the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme, as SOLVE will be used to validate the Crew Module’s integrated parachute-based deceleration system under different flight conditions before crewed missions.
• Altitude:10-17 km
• Parachutes:Sequence of 10 parachutes deploys for descent before splashdown
• Design Features:
• Solid stage derived from PSLV Strap-on Motor
• Slow burn-rate propellant

SPORTS

7.  ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2026

Current Context: Australia clinched ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.

ABOUT ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2026

• The 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was held from 12 June to 5 July 2026 in England and Wales.
• The tournament featured a record 12 teams, making it the largest edition in the history of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
• In the final at Lord’s, London, Australia defeated England by 7 wickets to win a record seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title.
• Winning Captain:Sophie Molineux
• Runner-up:England (Captain: Nat Sciver-Brunt)

SPORTS

8. VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI BECOMES YOUNGEST INDIA DEBUTANT

Current Context: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest international cricketer at 15 years and 99 days on T20I debut against England.

ABOUT THE RECORD

• Venue:Old Trafford, Manchester
• Against:England
• Previous Record:Sachin Tendulkar (16 years 205 days, 1989)
• Records Broken:
• Youngest player to play for India in any format
• Youngest Indian men’s T20I debutant
• Broke Sachin Tendulkar’s 3-decade-old record
• World Record Context:
• Youngest Men’s T20I debutant: Marian Gherasim (Romania, 14 years 16 days, 2020)
• Among full ICC members: Joshua Little (Ireland, 16 years 309 days)

SPORTS

9. HARSHAVARDHAN G.B. BECOMES INDIA’S 97TH GRANDMASTER

Current Context: Harshavardhan G.B. from Chennai became India’s 97th Grandmaster (GM).

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Achievement:India’s 97th Grandmaster
• Achieved at:2nd Chola Chess GM Norm Round Robin Tournament, Chennai
• Requirements Met:Final GM norm + 2500 FIDE Elo Rating
• Recent Chess Grandmasters:
• 96th GM: Ethan Vaz (Goa)
• 95th GM: Aronya Ghosh (Kolkata)
• Woman Grandmaster:
• 26th WGM: Sarayu Velpula (Warangal, Telangana)

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