Prelims Current Affairs includes Quit India Movement Day 2026, Gobardhan Scheme, Msme Sustainable Zed Certification Scheme, ‘Seafarer-First’ Initiative, Ladakh To Launch India’s First High-Altitude Wildlife Safari, Apeda Organises Biofach India 2026, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (Ipc), Praggnanandhaa Wins Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026 & Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award For Environment Protection 2026

IMPORTANT DAYS 

1. QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT DAY 2026

Current Context: Quit India Movement Day is observed every year on 8 August to commemorate the launch of the historic Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan) in 1942.

ABOUT QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

• Started during the Bombay Session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
• Held at Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan), Mumbai.
• Led by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Famous slogan: “Do or Die”.
• Demanded an immediate end to British rule in India.
• Slogan Coined By:Yusuf Meherally (“Quit India”)

Causes:

• Launched during World War II.
• Failure of the Sir Stafford Cripps Mission (1942) to secure Indian political support.

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

2. GOBARdhan SCHEME

Current Context: The Union Cabinet approved the GOBARdhan Scheme with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore to promote Compressed Biogas (CBG) production by converting organic waste into clean energy and organic manure.

ABOUT GOBARdhan SCHEME

• GOBARdhan stands for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan.
• Launched in 2018 under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
• Objective:Promotes the scientific management of cattle dung and organic waste to produce Compressed Biogas (CBG), biogas, bio-slurry, and organic manure.
• Duration:FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36
• Nodal Ministry:The GOBARdhan scheme is coordinated primarily by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
• However, as an expanded national initiative emphasizing compressed biogas (CBG) and waste-to-wealth, it operates on a whole-of-government approach coordinated closely with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) alongside other ministries like New and Renewable Energy, and Agriculture.

WHAT IS COMPRESSED BIOGAS (CBG)?

• Compressed Biogas is a purified form of biogas produced from organic waste such as cattle dung, crop residue, food waste, and municipal waste.
• It has properties similar to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and can be used as a clean transportation and industrial fuel.

SCHEMES

3. MSME SUSTAINABLE ZED CERTIFICATION SCHEME

Current Context: Ministry of MSME is promoting quality-driven and environmentally sustainable manufacturing through ZED Certification Scheme.

ABOUT ZED SCHEME

• ZED stands for Zero Defect, Zero Effect.
• Launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
• Aims to encourage MSMEs to manufacture high-quality products (Zero Defect) with minimal environmental impact (Zero Effect).
• Implemented by the Quality Council of India (QCI).
• Certification Levels:Bronze, Silver, Gold

Key Features:

• 100% subsidyon ZED certification cost for women-owned MSMEs (since 11 November 2023)
• Financial Assistance:Up to 75% of testing cost (max ₹50,000), ₹2 lakh for consultancy, ₹3 lakh for cleaner technologies
• 22 States/UTshave integrated ZED into industrial policies

ABOUT QUALITY COUNCIL OF INDIA (QCI)

• Established in 1997 under Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
• Autonomous body jointly set up by the Government of India and Indian industry.
• Promotes quality standards, accreditation, and certification.

SCHEMES

4. ‘SEAFARER-FIRST’ INITIATIVE

Current Context: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched the ‘Seafarer-First’ Initiative following attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, to enhance the safety, welfare, and emergency support for Indian seafarers.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

• Focuses on protecting Indian seafarers working on merchant ships, especially in conflict-prone and high-risk maritime regions.
• Ensures faster government support during maritime emergencies.
• Key Features:
• Flag-Neutral Operational Dashboard – live tracking of every Indian seafarer
• Dedicated Liaison Officers for affected seafarers
• 24×7 multi-channel support (toll-free, international helpline, WhatsApp, email)
• Strict employer compliance – no seafarer compelled to sail through high-risk zones
• Pre-voyage threat assessments

ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM

5. LADAKH TO LAUNCH INDIA’S FIRST HIGH-ALTITUDE WILDLIFE SAFARI

Current Context: The Union Territory of Ladakh approved India’s first guided High-Altitude Wildlife Safari to promote responsible eco-tourism, wildlife conservation, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

ABOUT THE SAFARI

• Designed to provide tourists with opportunities to observe rare Himalayan wildlife in their natural habitat.
• Focuses on low-impact and conservation-based tourism.
• Conducted under trained guides with regulated visitor a
• Coverage:Hemis National Park, Changthang, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil, Drass

SUMMITS

6. APEDA ORGANISES BIOFACH INDIA 2026

Current Context: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organised BIOFACH INDIA 2026 at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, to promote India’s organic food sector and enhance global market access.

ABOUT BIOFACH INDIA 2026

• India’s leading international trade fair for organic products.
• Provides a platform for organic food producers, exporters, buyers, certification agencies, and policymakers.
• Facilitates Business-to-Business (B2B) interactions and international trade partnerships.

ABOUT APEDA

• Full Form: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
• Established in 1986 under the APEDA Act, 1985.
• Functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

HEALTH

7. INDIAN PHARMACOPOEIA COMMISSION (IPC)

Current Context:  The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has been recognised as the WHO South-East Asia Regional Network (WHO-SEARN) Regional Centre of Excellence in Pharmacovigilance and Technical Centre in Quality, reinforcing India’s leadership in medicine safety and quality standards.

ABOUT IPC & PHARMACOVIGILANCE

• Pharmacovigilance is the science of detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects or other medicine-related problems.
• Ensures the safe use of medicines after they are marketed.
• An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• Established in 2009.
• Headquarters: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Responsible for setting official standards for drugs and pharmaceutical substances in India.
• Publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).

About WHO-SEARN:

• Established:2016
• Purpose:Strengthen regulatory systems across Member States
• Activities:Knowledge sharing, regulatory convergence, capacity building

SPORTS

8. PRAGGNANANDHAA WINS SAINT LOUIS RAPID & BLITZ 2026

Current Context: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa won his maiden Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz title, emerging champion at the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026 tournament.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is a prestigious international chess tournament. Part of the Grand Chess Tour.
• Hosted annually at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
• Features the world’s leading chess players competing in Rapid and Blitz
• Winner:R Praggnanandhaa (India, 20 years)
• Score:5/36 points
• Runner-up:Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) – 22.0 points

AWARDS & HONOURS

9. DR. M.S. SWAMINATHAN AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION 2026

Current Context: P. Pechiyammal and Govindhammal were honoured with the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026 for their outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

ABOUT THE AWARD

Recipients:

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