Prelims Current Affairs includes World Tourism Day 2026, Iea Special Report On Electrification 2026 , Us-Denmark-Greenland Security Agreement, 3rd National Conference Of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (Antf), Ins Trishul Arrives At Toulon For 24th India-France Exercise Varuna, Satellite Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (Sat-Saaw), Mizoram Woman Farmer To Receive Fao 100 Women Heroes Award & Seema Kumari Wins Historic Bronze At Asian Games 2026

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD TOURISM DAY 2026

Current Context: World Tourism Day is observed every year on 27 September to highlight the importance of tourism in economic development, cultural exchange, employment and sustainable development.

ABOUT WORLD TOURISM DAY

• Established in: 1980.
• Established by: UN Tourism General Assembly at its third session in Torremolinos, Spain, in 1979.
• The date 27 September was selected because it marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization in 1970.
• Theme 2026:“Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”
• Organising Body:UN Tourism (United Nations World Tourism Organization)
• 2026 Host:San Salvador and Surf City, El Salvador

REPORT

2. IEA SPECIAL REPORT ON ELECTRIFICATION 2026

Current Context: The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its special report “Electrification”, examining how faster electrification can improve energy security, affordability and climate outcomes.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• The report finds that electricity currently accounts for about 23% of global final energy consumption, while cost-effective technologies available today could raise this to around 33% by 2035, bringing the proposed 35% global electrification target within reach.

KEY FINDINGS

• 35% target: Under the IEA’s High Electrification Scenario (HES), electricity’s share of global final energy consumption can reach 35% by 2035.
• Transport: Transport has the largest potential for further electrification. Around half of oil-based road transport demand can already be electrified competitively using available technologies.
• Electric vehicles: EVs already avoid around 3 million barrels of oil demand per day globally. Under the High Electrification Scenario, this could reach around 18 million barrels per day by 2035.
• Buildings: Around half of global space-heating demand could be electrified cost-effectively.
• Industry: Around 40% of energy consumption in low- and medium-temperature industrial applications can be electrified cost-effectively.

About IEA:

• Established: 1974 (after 1973 oil crisis)
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Members: 31 member countries

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. US-DENMARK-GREENLAND SECURITY AGREEMENT

Current Context: The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a trilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. The agreement seeks to strengthen security and defence cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

ABOUT THE AGREEMENT

• The agreement expands the scope for a US military presence in Greenland while reaffirming Danish sovereignty over Greenland and recognising Greenland’s self-government.
• Main focus: Arctic security, defence cooperation and expanded US military access/presence in Greenland.

KEY FEATURES

• Expanded US military presence: The agreement allows greater US defence activity and the development of additional military facilities in Greenland.
• Missile defence: The arrangement includes plans associated with strengthening US missile-defence capabilities in Greenland.
• NATO security: The agreement is linked to the broader security architecture of NATO in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
• Restrictions on adversarial presence: The arrangement seeks to prevent non-NATO powers such as Russia and China from establishing military or strategically sensitive footholds in Greenland.

INTERNAL SECURITY

4.  3RD NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ANTI-NARCOTICS TASK FORCE (ANTF)

Current Context: The 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads was held in New Delhi, bringing together ANTF heads from 36 States and Union Territories. It was organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

• The conference set a national goal of eliminating the drug trade from India by 31 December 2029, with emphasis on dismantling entire trafficking networks rather than focusing only on drug seizures.
• ANTFs are specialised State/UT-level mechanisms for coordinating action against drug trafficking and narcotics-related offences.
• They work in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other central and state agencies.
• The conference provides a platform for coordination, intelligence sharing, enforcement and capacity building among these agencies.
• Theme: “United Resolve, Shared Responsibility”.

Core Strategy – Paradigm Shift:

• From Seizure-Centric to Network Dismantling
• Striking Funds:Financial investigations targeting illicit profits, laundering, crypto transactions
• Three-Tier Operational Attack:Entry points, inter-state distribution, local sales networks
• Three-Fold District Classification:Manufacturing/Origin, Transit Corridors, Consumption Hubs

DEFENCE

5. INS TRISHUL ARRIVES AT TOULON FOR 24TH INDIA-FRANCE EXERCISE VARUNA

Current Context: INS Trishul arrived at Toulon naval base, France on 22 September 2026 for 24th edition of Varuna exercise.

ABOUT EXERCISE VARUNA

• Type:Bilateral maritime exercise
• First Exercise:1983
• Name “Varuna” Adopted:2001
• Venue:Toulon, France

About INS Trishul:

• Type:Guided missile frigate (Pennant Number F43)
• Upgrades:BrahMos-capable UVLM, Atlas Elektronik ACTAS sonar, anti-torpedo decoy system

DEFENCE

6. SATELLITE SMART ANTI AIRFIELD WEAPON (SAT-SAAW)

Current Context: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) on 23 September 2026 for 160 SAT-SAAW for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

ABOUT SAT-SAAW

• SAT-SAAW stands for Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon.
• It is an air-to-ground precision-guided glide bomb designed to strike ground targets, particularly enemy airfields, from a long stand-off distance.
• The weapon has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO.
• It can be launched from aircraft such as Jaguar, Hawk and Su-30 MKI.

KEY FEATURES

• Precision-guided: Uses navigation technologies to accurately engage ground targets.
• Stand-off capability: Allows an aircraft to attack targets from a considerable distance without having to fly directly over the target.
• Range: up to 90-100 km.
• Lightweight: 125 kg and a length of 85 metres

AWARDS & HONOURS

7. MIZORAM WOMAN FARMER TO RECEIVE FAO 100 WOMEN HEROES AWARD

Current Context: Z T Lalrithangi (Pi Mari-i) from Mizoram selected among FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Part of:International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026)
• Award Ceremony:World Food Forum, FAO headquarters, Rome

ABOUT Z T LALRITHANGI

• Name: Z T Lalrithangi, popularly known as Pi Mari-i.
• She is a former school teacher who later took up farming.
• She began experimenting with strawberry cultivation in 2024, initially with around 1,000 saplings.
• Her strawberry farm has expanded to more than 10,000 plants across about 2 hectares, along with other crops such as avocado and banana.

HIMACHAL NEWS

8. SEEMA KUMARI WINS HISTORIC BRONZE AT ASIAN GAMES 2026

Current Context: Seema Kumari from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh won bronze in women’s 10,000m at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Time:32 minutes 50.05 seconds
• Medal:Bronze
• Significance:India’s first athletics medal at 2026 Asian Games, ended 16-year wait for 10,000m medal

Race Results:

• About Seema Kumari:
• From:Reta village, Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh
• Training:Sports Authority of India hostel, Dharamsala (2015)
• Achievements:Gold at Junior National Athletics Championships (2015), National records in 2,000m and 3,000m; Gold at 17th Asian Cross Country Championships (2024).

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