Prelims Current Affairs includes World Hepatitis Day 2026, Pm Modi’s Exam Security Task Force, Brics Summit 2026: India Invites Bangladesh, United Nations Commission On International Trade Law (Uncitral), Sarnath Inscribed On Unesco World Heritage List, Punjab Becomes First State To Introduce Ai As Mainstream Subject, Kheybar Shekan Missile, Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (Svep), Anahat Singh Wins World Junior Squash Championship & Mirabai Chanu Wins Third Consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD HEPATITIS DAY 2026

Current Context: World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and its impact.

• It promotes prevention, testing, timely treatment, and accelerate efforts to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
• Declared By: World Health Organization (WHO).
• Official Recognition: Adopted by the 63rd World Health Assembly (2010).
• Theme 2026:“Hepatitis: Let’s break it down”
• Observed on the birth anniversary of Baruch Samuel Blumberg.
• He discovered the Hepatitis B virus (HBV).

POLITY

2. PM MODI’S EXAM SECURITY TASK FORCE

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a High-Powered Exam Security Task Force to comprehensively reform India’s public examination system.

ABOUT THE TASK FORCE

• Chairperson: Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder of Infosys and former Chairman of UIDAI.
• Purpose: To make India’s examination system secure, transparent, technology-driven, and leak-proof.
• Coverage:UPSC, SSC, Banking Exams, RRB, NEET, JEE, CUET, State PSC exams

Expected Recommendations:

• AI-based monitoring of examination centres
• Biometric candidate verification
• Secure encrypted digital question paper delivery
• Real-time surveillance and analytics

SUMMIT

3. BRICS SUMMIT 2026: INDIA INVITES BANGLADESH

Current Context: India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the 18th BRICS Summit as a Special Guest in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026.

• Bangladesh has also been invited in its capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC.
• Theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVITATION

• Strengthen India-Bangladesh bilateral relations.
• Enhance cooperation between BRICS and regional organisations.
• Promote engagement with the Global South.
• Reinforce India’s “Neighbourhood First” and regional diplomacy initiatives.

ABOUT BRICS

• Established: 2009 (first summit held in Russia).
• Nature: Intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies.
• Current Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia (joined in 2025).

ABOUT BIMSTEC

• Full Form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
• Established:
• Members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 

4. UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW (UNCITRAL)

Current Context: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar addressed the inaugural session of the 60th anniversary commemoration of UNCITRAL in New York.

ABOUT UNCITRAL

• It highlights India’s commitment to strengthening a rules-based international trading system and promoting reforms in international commercial law.
• Established: 1966 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• Headquarters (Secretariat): Vienna, Austria.
• Secretariat: UNCITRAL Secretariat (part of the UN Office of Legal Affairs).
• Purpose: To harmonize and modernize international trade law by developing legal frameworks that facilitate global trade and investment.
• Function:Formulate modern, fair, and harmonized rules on commercial transactions
• Member Countries:70 (elected by General Assembly)
• Term:6 years (half members expire every 3 years)
• India:Founding member

ART & CULTURE

5. SARNATH INSCRIBED ON UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Current Context: The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Republic of Korea, on 25 July 2026.

ABOUT SARNATH

• With this inscription, Sarnath became India’s 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It was at Sarnath that Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana or “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma”) after attaining enlightenment.
• It was also the site where the first Buddhist Sangha (monastic community) was established.
• Preserves archaeological remains dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE.

MAJOR MONUMENTS AT SARNATH

• Dhamek Stupa: Marks the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon.
• Dharmarajika Stupa: Built by Emperor Ashoka to enshrine Buddhist relics.
• Ashokan Pillar: Originally erected by Emperor Ashoka.
• Lion Capital of Ashoka: India’s National Emblem.
• Ashoka Chakra (24-spoke wheel) on the National Flag is derived from the Sarnath pillar.
• Chaukhandi Stupa: Commemorates Buddha’s meeting with his first five disciples.
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihara: Modern Buddhist temple built by the Mahabodhi Society.
• Sarnath Archaeological Museum: Houses the original Lion Capital and important Gupta-period Buddhist sculptures.

STATES IN NEWS

6. PUNJAB BECOMES FIRST STATE TO INTRODUCE AI AS MAINSTREAM SUBJECT

Current Context: Punjab launched the Sarbat.AI initiative, becoming the first Indian state to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mainstream subject for Classes I-XII in government schools from the 2026–27 academic session.

ABOUT SARBAT.AI

• Aim:Build AI-literate, innovation-driven, and ethically responsible student community
• Objective: To integrate AI into mainstream school education and build future-ready skills among students.

Significance:

• Future-ready workforce with AI, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital skills
• Positions Punjab as national leader in AI-enabled education

DEFENCE

7. KHEYBAR SHEKAN MISSILE

Current Context: Iran has been using the Kheybar Shekan ballistic missile in complex attacks, demonstrating its growing indigenous missile capabilities and precision strike potential.

ABOUT KHEYBAR SHEKAN MISSILE

• Kheybar Shekan (“Khaybar Breaker”) is an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force.
• Unveiled: February 2022.
• It belongs to Iran’s third-generation solid-fuel ballistic missile
• Designed to strike strategic military targets with improved accuracy and survivability.
• Range: Approximately 1,450 km.
• Launch Platform: Road-mobile Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL).
• Warhead: Conventional high-explosive.
• Speed:Mach 12 (19,500 km/h in atmosphere, 9,800 km/h outside)

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

8. START-UP VILLAGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME (SVEP)

Current Context: The Government of India highlighted the achievements of the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), stating that 4.32 lakh rural enterprises had been supported under the programme as of 30 June 2026.

ABOUT SVEP

• About 86% of the entrepreneurs belong to SC, ST, OBC, and Minority communities, reflecting the programme’s focus on inclusive rural entrepreneurship.
• Launched: 2016 (approved in 2015).
• Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development.

Implemented Under: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

• Objective: Promote non-farm rural enterprises by supporting Self-Help Group (SHG) members and their families to establish sustainable businesses.

Key Features:

• Supports SHGs and family members in non-farm sector enterprises
• Provides financial assistance, business management training, soft skill development
• Community-based decision-making for funding
• Strong focus on women, marginalized communities

ABOUT DAY-NRLM

• Launched: 2011 (as National Rural Livelihoods Mission), renamed as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana in 2015. Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development.

SPORTS 

9. ANAHAT SINGH WINS WORLD JUNIOR SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP

Current Context: Anahat Singh won girls’ singles title at World Junior Squash Championships 2026.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Anahat Singh created history by becoming the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championship after defeating Ruqayya Salem of Egypt in the girls’ singles final at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.
• Records: Ended Egypt’s 13-title winning streak(2011-2025)

SPORTS 

10. MIRABAI CHANU WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE COMMONWEALTH GAMES GOLD

Current Context: Olympic medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu created history by winning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.

• She secured India’s first gold medal of the Games with a Commonwealth Games record total lift of 190 kg (85 kg Snatch + 105 kg Clean & Jerk).

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