Prelims Current Affairs includes Nelson Mandela International Day 2026, World Day For International Justice 2026, World’s First 7-Star Luxury Train, India’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Lakhanpur Selected For Pm Svanidhi Street Food Hub, Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (Mpms), Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: 75 Stations Inaugurated & Indian Navy To Host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY 2026

Current Context: Nelson Mandela International Day is observed on 18 July to commemorate the birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa.

ABOUT NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY

• Declared By: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
• Proclaimed: November 2009
• First Observed: 18 July 2010
• It is the first UN International Day dedicated to an individual, recognizing Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary contribution to peace, democracy, human rights, reconciliation, and social justice.
• THEME FOR 2026: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.”
• The theme calls upon individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to take collective action against poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

2. WORLD DAY FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE 2026

Current Context: World Day for International Justice is observed on 17 July to promote international criminal justice and accountability.

ABOUT WORLD DAY FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

• Also known as International Justice Day or Day of International Criminal Justice.
• It commemorates the adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• The International Criminal Court (ICC) officially came into existence on 1 July 2002, after the Rome Statute entered into force.
• The observance was formally recognized during the 2010 Kampala Review Conference of the Rome Statute

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3. WORLD’S FIRST 7-STAR LUXURY TRAIN

Current Context: ‘Seven Stars in Kyushu’ is the world’s first 7-star luxury train operated by JR Kyushu in Japan.

ABOUT SEVEN STARS IN KYUSHU

• Japan’s Seven Stars in Kyushu is setting the global benchmark for ultra-luxury rail travel since its launch in 2013. It continues to expand its exclusive itineraries for 2026.
• Operator: JR Kyushu (Kyushu Railway Company)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

4. INDIA’S FIRST HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TRAIN

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train from Jind, Haryana.

ABOUT HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TRAIN

• The train will operate on the Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway, marking a major milestone in India’s transition towards green and zero-emission rail transport.
• Developed under Indian Railways’ “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative to promote clean-energy transportation.
• Type:Next-gen railway vehicle generating electricity onboard using hydrogen fuel cells
• Technology:Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells
• By-product:Only steam and heat (zero carbon emissions)
• Reaction:
• Hydrogen + Oxygen → Electricity + Steam + Heat
• Distance:89 km

ENVIRONMENT

5. MAHANANDA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Current Context: Bengal government decided to shrink eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary from 5 km to 1 km.

ABOUT MAHANANDA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• Location: Darjeeling district, West Bengal.
• Situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, between the Teesta and Mahananda
• Declared Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Area: Approximately 159 sq. km.

KEY FEATURES

• Altitude ranges from about 150 m to over 1,300 m, supporting diverse ecosystems.
• Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) due to its rich avifaunal diversity.
• Serves as a vital elephant migration corridor connecting West Bengal, Assam, and Nepal.

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES 

6. LAKHANPUR SELECTED FOR PM SVANIDHI STREET FOOD HUB

Current Context: Lakhanpur in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, has been selected among the first towns in India for the development of a PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Lakhanpur has been selected in the first phase of the Street Food Hub initiative, under which up to 50 Street Food Hubs will be established across India
• Aim:Develop organised, hygienic, modern vending spaces.
• Financial Assistance:₹4 crore per project

ABOUT PM SVANIDHI SCHEME

• Launched: 1 June 2020.
• Objective: Provide collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors.

SCHEMES

7. MOBILE PHONE MANUFACTURING SCHEME (MPMS)

Current Context: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹62,500 crore.

ABOUT MPMS

• The scheme aims to strengthen India’s position as a global mobile phone manufacturing hub, deepen domestic value addition, boost exports, and create globally competitive Indian brands.
• The scheme will be implemented from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• The scheme succeeds the earlier Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing and aims to move India from an assembly hub to a high-value manufacturing and innovation hub.
• Aim:Build Indian brands, achieve technological sovereignty, create Indian patents in design and R&D

SCHEMES

8. AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME: 75 STATIONS INAUGURATED

Current Context: PM Modi virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across 20 states on 17 July 2026.

ABOUT AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME

• The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), continuing the modernization of Indian Railways with world-class passenger amenities and heritage-inspired station designs.
• Launched By: Ministry of Railways.
• Launch: December 2022 (implementation began in 2023).
• Vision: Long-term redevelopment and modernization of railway stations based on local needs and regional identity
• Target:More than 1,338 stations across India
• 180 stations completed by March 2026
• Target: 400 stations by end of 2026

DEFENCE

9. INDIAN NAVY TO HOST OPERATION SOUTHERN READINESS 26-2

Current Context: Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 scheduled at Southern Naval Command, Kochi from 20-23 July 2026.

ABOUT OPERATION SOUTHERN READINESS 26-2

• Conducted by:Indian Navy with Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)
• Multinational naval partnership for maritime security in key sea lanes
• Participating Nations: Australia, Canada, Japan, Thailand, UAE, Oman, Djibouti, Seychelles, USA, UK

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