Prelims Current Affairs includes National Handloom Day 2026, Trai Revamps Mycall App, India Plans To Expand Power Capacity To 874 Gw By 2031-32, Asan Conservation Reserve, China Harvests First Rice Crop Grown In Space & African Swine Fever

IMPORTANT DAYS 

1. NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY 2026

Current Context: National Handloom Day is observed on 7 August to celebrate India’s handloom heritage and honour weavers.

ABOUT NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY

• First celebrated in 2015.
• Commemorates the Swadeshi Movement, which was launched on 7 August 1905 at Calcutta Town Hall to promote indigenous industries and boycott foreign goods.
• Organised by the Ministry of Textiles.
• 2026 Edition:12th National Handloom Day

POLITY

2. TRAI REVAMPS MYCALL APP

Current Context: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched the revamped MyCall mobile application on 3 August 2026.

ABOUT TRAI MYCALL APP

• It enables users to measure and report the quality of voice calls experienced on their mobile networks.
• The app helps TRAI collect crowd-sourced data to monitor the Quality of Service (QoS) provided by telecom operators.
• Features:Rate calls on 1–5-star scale, report call drops, echo, audio delay, voice breaking, one-way audio, signal coverage tests

About TRAI:

• Full Form:Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
• Established:1997
• Purpose:Regulate telecom services and ensure quality of service

POLITY

3. INDIA PLANS TO EXPAND POWER CAPACITY TO 874 GW BY 2031-32

Current Context: India plans to increase its installed power generation capacity to 874 GW by 2031-32, as outlined in the National Electricity Plan (Generation) to meet rising electricity demand while accelerating the transition towards clean energy.

ABOUT THE PLAN

• Prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) statutory body under the Electricity Act, 2003.
• Provides a roadmap for expanding India’s power generation capacity up to 2031-32.
• Focuses on ensuring energy security, reliability, and sustainable development.
• Current Capacity (30 June 2026):86 GW
• Target Capacity (2031-32):874 GW
• Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity:18% (surpassed 2030 NDC target of 50%)

Key Additions Planned:

• 80 GW new coal-based capacity
• Expanded hydropower and nuclear energy
• 15,870 MW Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs)
• 15,754 MW Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• 191,474 circuit km new transmission lines
• 1,274 GVA transformation capacity

ENVIRONMENT

4. ASAN CONSERVATION RESERVE

Current Context: The Supreme Court clarified that the 10-km mining buffer around the Asan Conservation Reserve in Uttarakhand will apply to all wetland Conservation Reserves across India to strengthen wetland protection.

ABOUT ASAN CONSERVATION RESERVE

• Located in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand.
• Situated at the confluence of the Asan River and Yamuna River.
• Declared a Conservation Reserve under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Recognised as Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar Site in 2020.
• Area:4 hectares

WHAT IS A CONSERVATION RESERVE

• A Conservation Reserve is a protected area declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Declared on government-owned land adjacent to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries or in ecologically important landscapes.
• Aims to protect wildlife while allowing community participation in conservation.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

5. CHINA HARVESTS FIRST RICE CROP GROWN IN SPACE

Current Context: Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong Space Station harvested the first batch of rice grown in orbit on 5 August 2026, marking a major milestone in space agriculture and long-duration human space missions.

ABOUT THE EXPERIMENT

• Conducted under microgravity conditions.
• Study effects of microgravity on genetic stability, plant development, seed reproduction
• Supports future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
• Mission:Shenzhou-23 (launched 24 May 2026)

Rice Types:

• Ordinary seeds (never been to space)
• “Space lineage” seeds (descended from 2022 rice, bred on Earth for 3 generations)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

6. AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

Current Context: Scientists at ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases have developed India’s first indigenous vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF), a major breakthrough in controlling the deadly disease affecting pigs.

ABOUT AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

• African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boars.
• Caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV).
• Belongs to the Family: Asfarviridae.
• It is the only known DNA arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus).
• The disease is not transmitted to humans and poses no food safety risk
• First detected in India:January 2020 (Assam)

Treatment:

• No treatment available; prevention through biosecurity measures and culling
• Vaccine:
• Aims to reduce mortality and disease spread.
• Expected to improve the resilience of the pig farming sector.
• India’s first indigenous ASF vaccine developed by ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal
• MA-104 Cell Line-Based Live Attenuated ASF vaccine

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