Prelims Current Affairs includes Glaw Lake Becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site, India’s 101^st, India Achieves Near-Universal Banking Coverage, Government Proposes Mandatory Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication From 2028, Pm Modi Inaugurates Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, Project Sarathi, Indian Army Launches Indigenous Xwg Diesel Exercise Rotor Clap Iii & Hockey World Cup 2026

ENVIRONMENT

1. GLAW LAKE BECOMES ARUNACHAL PRADESH’S FIRST RAMSAR SITE, INDIA’S 101ST

Current Context: Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh was designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site on 3 August 2026, becoming the first Ramsar Site in the state.

ABOUT GLAW LAKE

• Located in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Situated inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Lies in the Eastern Himalayas, one of the world’s richest biodiversity regions.
• A high-altitude freshwater lake fed by perennial mountain streams.
• First Ramsar Site in Arunachal Pradesh.

ABOUT THE RAMSAR CONVENTION

• An international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
• Adopted: 1971.
• Signed at:
• India became a Party: 1982.
• Secretariat is located at Gland, Switzerland.

ECONOMY

2. INDIA ACHIEVES NEAR-UNIVERSAL BANKING COVERAGE

Current Context: India has achieved 99.92% banking coverage across its inhabited villages, with more than 58.77 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts, marking a major milestone in financial inclusion.

ABOUT BANKING COVERAGE

• Universal Banking Coverage means ensuring that every person or every inhabited village has access to basic banking services, either through a bank branch, Banking Correspondent (BC), ATM, Post Office, or digital banking.
• Financial inclusion means providing affordable and accessible financial services to every individual, especially the poor and vulnerable.
• Total Inhabited Villages:6,01,328
• Covered Villages:6,00,868 (99.92%)
• Coverage within:5 km radius
• Data Source:Jan Dhan Darshak App (Used to map banking outlets in villages across India)

Policy Framework:

• RBI permits banks to open branches anywhere without prior approval
• 25% branch requirement in unbanked rural areas
• Monitoring: State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs) and UT level UTLBCs
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
• Launched: 28 August 2014 under Ministry: Ministry of Finance.

POLITY

3. GOVERNMENT PROPOSES MANDATORY VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION FROM 2028

Current Context: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification proposing that all new motor vehicles manufactured from 2028 onwards be equipped with Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems to enhance road safety and support intelligent transportation

ABOUT V2V COMMUNICATION

• Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication is a wireless technology that enables vehicles to exchange real-time information with one another.
• Data:Speed, position, direction, braking status
• Purpose: Provides early warnings about potential collisions, including hazards beyond the driver’s line of sight.

Implementation Schedule:

VEHICLE CATEGORIES COVERED

• Category L: Two-wheelers and three-wheelers.
• Category M: Passenger vehicles.
• Category N: Goods vehicles.
• REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
• Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989.
• AIS-230 – Indian standard governing V2V communication.

STATES IN NEWS 

4. PM MODI INAUGURATES ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, strengthening aviation connectivity and regional economic development.

ABOUT THE AIRPORT

• Serves the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region and the North Coastal Andhra
• Developed as a modern greenfield international airport (PPP model)
• Designed to handle both domestic and international flights.
• Cost:₹5,640+ crore
• Annual Passenger Capacity:6 million

STATES IN NEWS 

5. ASIATIC WILD BUFFALO

Current Context: The Chhattisgarh Forest Department is planning to translocate Asiatic Wild Buffaloes from Assam to strengthen the declining wild buffalo population in the state and improve its genetic diversity.

ABOUT ASIATIC WILD BUFFALO

• Common Name: Asiatic Wild Buffalo (Wild Water Buffalo).
• Scientific Name: Bubalus arnee.
• Considered the wild ancestor of the domestic buffalo.
• One of the largest wild bovines in the world.
• Characterised by long crescent-shaped horns, often extending over 2 metres.
• Habitat:Swamps, flooded grasslands, wetlands, alluvial plains, river valleys
• Distribution in India:
• India hosts >90% of global wild water buffalo population (3,500-3,700 individuals)
• Assam:3,000-3,500
• Smaller populations:Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra
• Conservation Status:
• IUCN:Endangered
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule I

HEALTH

6. PROJECT SARATHI

Current Context: The Union Health Minister chaired a review meeting to assess the progress and plan the nationwide expansion of Project SARATHI, a patient-support initiative aimed at improving healthcare access and hospital navigation across India.

ABOUT PROJECT SARATHI

• Project SARATHI is a hospital navigation and patient support programme that helps patients and their attendants access healthcare services more easily.
• Full Form:Students’ Alliance for Responsible Action to Transform Healthcare Institutes
• Type:Youth-led, volunteer-driven patient assistance initiative
• Purpose:Provide non-clinical navigation, guidance, and mobility assistance in public hospitals
• Strictly supportive – no clinical, medical, or administrative duties
• Integrated with:MY Bharat (Viksit Bharat Youth Network) digital portal
• Assists in:Creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs

DEFENCE

7. INDIAN ARMY LAUNCHES INDIGENOUS XWG DIESEL

Current Context: The Indian Army has introduced an indigenously developed XWG Diesel, capable of operating at temperatures as low as –42°C, to improve the operational readiness of military vehicles deployed in high-altitude and extremely cold regions.

ABOUT XWG DIESEL

• XWG diesel is made by removing wax from normal diesel and adding special cold-resistant additives so it does not freeze or thicken even at –42°C.
• XWG stands for Extreme Winter Grade Diesel.

WHY IS IT NEEDED?

• Ordinary diesel begins to form wax crystals at very low temperatures, blocking fuel filters and pipelines.
• This can prevent engines from starting and reduce vehicle mobility.
• XWG diesel remains fluid even in extreme cold, ensuring uninterrupted military operations.

Compatible Vehicles:

• T-90 and T-72 battle tanks
• BMP-2K infantry combat vehicles
• K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers
• Transport and logistics equipment

DEFENCE

8. EXERCISE ROTOR CLAP III

Current Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully concluded the week-long Exercise ROTOR CLAP III at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, to enhance the combat readiness of its helicopter fleet and aircrew.

ABOUT EXERCISE ROTOR CLAP III

• ROTOR CLAP is a major helicopter combat exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• It focuses on improving joint helicopter operations, tactical flying, and operational preparedness in diverse combat scenarios.
• The exercise is conducted in realistic battlefield conditions to validate operational doctrines and enhance mission effectiveness.
• Theme:Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (Counter-UAS)

SPORTS

9. HOCKEY WORLD CUP 2026

Current Context: The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from 15-30 August 2026, marking the first time the tournament will be jointly hosted by the two nations.

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW:

• The FIH Hockey World Cup is the premier international championship for field hockey.
• Edition: 16th Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
• Organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
• Conducted every four years.
• Teams:32 (16 men’s + 16 women’s)
• India Men’s Squad: Captain:Harmanpreet Singh
• India Women’s Squad: Captain:Salima Tete

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