Prelims Current Affairs includes World Maritime Day , 11th Ayurveda Day 2026, India-New Zealand Fta To Take Effect From October 20, 2026, 7th National Formulary Of India 2026 Launched, Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026, Nagaland-Set Film Angh Wins Tiff Platform Prize, India Wins First-Ever Asian Games Medal In Soft Tennis & Parbati-Ii Hydroelectric Project

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD MARITIME DAY

Current Context: World Maritime Day is observed on 24 September 2026, focusing on maritime safety, international shipping, environmental protection and sustainable maritime development.

ABOUT WORLD MARITIME DAY

• Observed: Last Thursday of September every year.
• Established by: International Maritime Organization (IMO).
• First Observed:
• Purpose: To highlight the importance of shipping and promote maritime safety, security and protection of the marine environment.
• Theme 2026-2027:“From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”

IMPORTANT DAYS

2. 11TH AYURVEDA DAY 2026

Current Context: India observes the 11th Ayurveda Day on 23 September 2026 to promote Ayurveda, preventive healthcare and holistic well-being.

ABOUT AYURVEDA DAY

• Theme 2026: “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow.” The main national celebration is being held in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• Organised by: Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
• First Ayurveda Day:
• Earlier Date: Ayurveda Day was traditionally observed on Dhanvantari Jayanti (Dhanteras), so its date changed annually.
• Fixed Date: The Government fixed 23 September as Ayurveda Day from 2025 onwards.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3.  INDIA-NEW ZEALAND FTA TO TAKE EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 20, 2026

Current Context: The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enter into force on 20 October 2026 after both countries completed their domestic procedures.

ABOUT INDIA-NEW ZEALAND FTA

• FTA: Free Trade Agreement, a pact that reduces or removes trade barriers, particularly customs duties, between participating countries.
• Signing Date: 27 April 2026.
• Effective Date: 20 October 2026, coinciding with Dussehra (Vijay Dashami).
• Objective: Expand bilateral trade, investment, services, employment opportunities and economic cooperation.
• India will provide tariff concessions on approximately 95% of New Zealand’s exports over the implementation period.
• Sensitive Indian sectors, including dairy, sugar, edible oils and selected agricultural products, have been excluded from tariff concessions.

Key Highlights:

• 100% duty-free access to Indian exports in New Zealand from day one
• Sectors: Textiles, leather, gems & jewelry, engineering goods, processed foods
• NZ investment pledge: USD 20 billion in India

Mobility Provisions:

• 5,000 visas for temporary employment
• 1,000 working holiday visas per year for Indian youth
• Post-study work visas for STEM and doctoral scholars

HEALTH

4. 7TH NATIONAL FORMULARY OF INDIA 2026 LAUNCHED

Current Context: The 7th edition of the National Formulary of India (NFI) 2026 was launched on 21 September 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

ABOUT NATIONAL FORMULARY OF INDIA (NFI)

• The National Formulary of India is an authoritative reference guide for healthcare professionals.
• It provides information on the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines.
• It promotes the rational, safe and evidence-based use of medicines.
• The NFI is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The first edition of NFI was published in 1960.
• Previous edition: 6th (October 2021)

INDIAN PHARMACOPOEIA COMMISSION (IPC)

• Established: 2008 as an autonomous institution.
• Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Headquarters: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Major Function: Development and publication of the Indian Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary of India.

About Pharmacovigilance:

• Detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects
• 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week: 17-23 September 2026
• Theme:“Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare” 

DEFENCE

5. EXERCISE NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2026

Current Context: The 18th edition of Exercise Nomadic Elephant commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

ABOUT THE EXERCISE

• It is a bilateral military exercise between India and Mongolia, aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and improving interoperability between the two armies.
• Previous Edition:Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Aim:

• Enhance joint military capability for Counter-Insurgency Operations
• Focus on semi-urban and mountainous terrain under UN Mandate

AWARDS

6. NAGALAND-SET FILM ANGH WINS TIFF PLATFORM PRIZE

Current Context: Theja Rio’s debut feature film Angh won the Platform Prize at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

ABOUT THE FILM

• Angh became the first film from Nagaland to win a TIFF award and was the only Indian film selected for the 2026 Platform Competition.
• Director: Theja Rio, a filmmaker from Nagaland and graduate of the UK’s National Film and Television School.
• Language: Konyak, a Naga language.
• Setting: Nagaland in the 1960s, focusing on an ageing Konyak village chief and his son.

SPORTS

7. INDIA WINS FIRST-EVER ASIAN GAMES MEDAL IN SOFT TENNIS

Current Context: Jay Meena created history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 by securing India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Historic Achievement: India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis
• Quarter-final: Defeated Sherwin Nuguit (Philippines) 4–3
• Semi-final Qualification: All four semi-finalists are assured of medals, guaranteeing India a medal.

ABOUT SOFT TENNIS

• Soft tennis originated in Japan and is particularly popular in East and Southeast Asia.
• It is played with softer, lighter rubber balls compared with conventional lawn tennis.

HIMACHAL NEWS

8. PARBATI-II HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Current Context: A sudden water leakage from the Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project created a flood-like situation near Raila/Rella village in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, damaging houses, sheds, cafés, agricultural and horticultural land.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Preliminary reports attributed the incident to a technical malfunction of a valve. The district administration has ordered an inquiry, and an FIR has also been registered against NHPC project management and employees.
• Project: Parbati Hydroelectric Project, Stage-II.
• Location: Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Developer/Owner: NHPC Limited.
• Installed Capacity: 800 MW, comprising 4 × 200 MW units.
• Type: Run-of-the-river hydropower project with small pondage.

MAJOR FEATURES

• An 7-metre-high concrete gravity dam has been constructed near Pulga village in the Manikaran Valley.
• Water from the Parbati River is diverted through a 56-km-long head-race tunnel (HRT) towards the powerhouse at Siund village in Sainj Valley.
• Himachal Pradesh receives 12% free power, with an additional 1% free power allocated for the Local Area Development Fund.

ABOUT PARVATI RIVER

• Parvati River is an important river of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, flowing through the famous Parvati Valley.
• Source: It originates from the Man Talai Glacier, below the Pin Parvati Pass in the Himalayas.
• Confluence: The Parvati River joins the Beas River at Bhuntar, around 10 km south of Kullu.

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