Prelims Current Affairs includes President Appoints Six Governors In Major State-Level Reshuffle, Global Initiative On Ai For Agri-Food Systems (Gi-Ai4fs), Ambaji Mohanthal Prasad Receives Gi Tag, Global Innovation Index 2026, Putul Sonowal Creates History With Bronze At World Bowls Championship 2026 & Sunil Bharti Mittal Receives France’s Highest Civilian Honour

APPOINTMENTS

1. PRESIDENT APPOINTS SIX GOVERNORS IN MAJOR STATE-LEVEL RESHUFFLE

Current Context: President Droupadi Murmu announced six governor appointments and transfers on 12 October 2026, covering Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

GOVERNOR APPOINTMENTS

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO STATE GOVERNORS

• The office of the Governor is established under Part VI (Article 153) of the Constitution of India.
• The Governor is the constitutional head of a state and performs executive, legislative and other functions prescribed by the Constitution.

QUALIFICATIONS AND TENURE

• According to Article 157, qualifications include being an Indian citizen who has attained the age of 35 years.
• As per Article 156, the tenure of the Governor is five years from the date of assuming office, subject to the pleasure of the President.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. GLOBAL INITIATIVE ON AI FOR AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS (GI-AI4FS)

Current Context: The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India hosted the Second meeting of the UN Global Initiative on AI for Agri-Food Systems (GI-AI4FS).

ABOUT GI-AI4FS

• It is a UN Global Initiative.
• Coordinated by: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in close collaboration with FAO, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) and WFP.
• It provides a platform for advancing dialogue on the responsible use of AI in agriculture and food systems.
• It promotes trustworthy and interoperable farmer-centric AI solutions.
• It strengthens international cooperation on governance and standards.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU)

• It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
• Established: 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
• Became a UN specialized agency:
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.

ART & CULTURE 

3. AMBAJI MOHANTHAL PRASAD RECEIVES GI TAG

Current Context: Ambaji Mohanthal Prasad, the traditional sweet offering at Ambaji Temple in Gujarat, received a Geographical Indication (GI).

ABOUT THE GI TAG

• GI protection applies to the name “Ambaji Mohanthal“.

ABOUT GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS IN INDIA

• A GI identifies goods as originating in a particular territory, region or locality, where a quality, reputation or other characteristic is linked to that geographical origin.
• GIs are registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• The GI Registry operates under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
• A registered GI is protected for 10 years and can be renewed for further periods of 10 years.

ABOUT AMBAJI TEMPLE

• Location: Banaskantha district, Gujarat.
• It is among India’s prominent Shaktipeeths.
• Mohanthal is made from gram flour, sugar and ghee.

REPORTS / INDICES

4. GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2026

Current Context: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026, ranking countries according to their innovation performance.

ABOUT GII

• First launched:
• Published by: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• Recognized by the UN General Assembly as an authoritative reference for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies.
• It tracks global innovation trends through investment patterns, technological progress, adoption rates and socioeconomic impacts.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF GII 2026

• The 2026 edition is the 19th edition of the index. It ranks 139 economies using approximately 80 indicators.

GLOBAL RANKINGS 2026

According to WIPO, the top 10 most innovative economies are:

1. Switzerland
2. Sweden
3. United States of America
4. Republic of Korea
5. Singapore
6. United Kingdom
7. Netherlands
8. Finland
9. Denmark
10. China

• Switzerland retained the first position for the 16th consecutive year.
• European economies continued to dominate the leading group, while China remained among the top 10.

INDIA’S PERFORMANCE IN GII 2026

• Overall rank: 38th among 139 economies.
• Innovation input rank:
• Innovation output rank:
• India ranks 1st among the 36 Lower middle-income group economies and among the 11 economies in Central and Southern Asia.

SPORTS

5. PUTUL SONOWAL CREATES HISTORY WITH BRONZE AT WORLD BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIP 2026

Current Context: India’s Putul Sonowal from Assam created history by winning the country’s first-ever bronze medal at the World Bowls Champion of Champions 2026 in Barham, Australia.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT.

• Putul Sonowal reached the men’s singles semi-finals, assuring India’s first-ever medal at the tournament.
• Sonowal, an Assam Police personnel, also won men’s singles gold at the 2026 Asian Lawn Bowls Championship.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Historic sporting milestone for India in international lawn bowls.
• Encourages greater recognition, investment and grassroots participation in non-mainstream sports.

AWARDS & HONOURS

6. SUNIL BHARTI MITTAL RECEIVES FRANCE’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOUR

Current Context: French President Emmanuel Macron named Sunil Bharti Mittal a Chevalier, or Knight, of the National Order of the Legion of Honour.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• The National Order of the Legion of Honour is France’s highest national distinction.
• Established: 1802 under Napoleon Bonaparte.
• It recognizes outstanding service to France in civilian or military life and may be conferred on French citizens and foreign nationals.
• Five ranks (lowest to highest): Chevalier, Officier, Commandeur, Grand Officier and Grand-Croix.

ABOUT SUNIL BHARTI MITTAL

• Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises.
• Co-Chairman of Eutelsat, a global satellite operator headquartered in France.

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