Prelims Current Affairs includes International Day For The Eradication Of Poverty, Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (Siofa), Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, National Saras Mela 2026, Asiatic Lions Return To Barda Wildlife Sanctuary After 144 Years, The State Of The World’s Forests 2026, Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 & Himachal Pradesh Inaugurates Its First Solar Power Project In Spiti Valley

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY

Current Context: The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed annually on 17 October to recognise that ending poverty is inseparable from protecting human rights, human dignity and peace.

ABOUT THE DAY

• Declared by: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution, adopted on 22 December 1992.
• First official observance:
• Historical origin: On 17 October 1987, more than 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, France, to honour victims of extreme poverty, hunger and violence.
• The gathering was inspired by the work of Father Joseph Wresinski, who advocated for the recognition of poverty as a violation of human rights
• 2026-2028 Theme: “United for Peace and Human Rights.”
• 2026 Focus: “Safe Homes for All.”
• The 2026 observance highlights adequate housing as a foundation for security, participation and a life of dignity.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN FISHERIES AGREEMENT (SIOFA)

Current Context: The Central Government has approved India’s accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).

ABOUT SIOFA

• Aim: To ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources in the area through cooperation among Contracting Parties.
• It covers fishery resources including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other sedentary species, but excludes highly migratory species (Annex I of UNCLOS).

INDIA AND SIOFA

• India is currently classified as a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP) to SIOFA, which limits its participation in decision-making processes since 2022.
• Accession as a Contracting Party would enable India to participate fully in these bodies and provide access to scientific data, research programmes and stock assessments.
• It will open up new fishing opportunities for Indian fishers and entrepreneurs.

ABOUT SIOFA

• Nature: A legally binding international agreement for the conservation and sustainable management of fisheries resources in the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean.
• Signed: 7 July 2006, in Rome, Italy.
• Entered into force: 21 June 2012.
• Secretariat/Headquarters: Le Port, Réunion, a French overseas department and region in the Indian Ocean.

SCHEMES

3. PRADHAN MANTRI SAMAJIK SAHAYATA YOJANA

Current Context: The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years (FY 2026-27 to 2030-31) with a financial outlay of ₹53,428 crore, formally renaming it the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana.

ABOUT THE SCHEME

• It is a welfare entitlement program that provides non-contributory, 100% centrally sponsored monthly pensions and social security assistance to vulnerable, below-poverty-line (BPL) elderly persons, widows, persons with disabilities and bereaved households.
• Launched: 15 August 1995, in accordance with the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 41 of the Constitution.
• Administered by: Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development.

KEY FEATURES

Institutional Renaming of Core Verticals:

• Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana (formerly IGNOAPS)
• Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana (formerly IGNWPS)
• Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana (formerly IGNDPS)
• Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana (formerly NFBS)
• Aligned Disability Criteria with RPwD Act 2016: Qualifying threshold for Divyangjan pension lowered from 80% severe disability to 40% benchmark disability.
• Coverage of Persons with Disabilities from Birth: Abolished the previous minimum age requirement (18 years) for disability pensions.
• Enhanced Divyangjan Financial Assistance: Monthly assistance of ₹375 for beneficiaries aged 0–79 years and ₹625 for those aged 80 years and above.
• Universal BPL Coverage: Covers 3.20 crore beneficiaries nationally.

ART & CULTURE

4. NATIONAL SARAS MELA 2026

Current Context: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates the National SARAS Mela 2026 in Vijayawada.

ABOUT THE MELA

• More than 1,500 women entrepreneurs from over 30 states and Union Territories are expected to participate.
• Being organised for the first time outside the Delhi-NCR region.
• Organised in collaboration with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Andhra Pradesh.
• It will coincide with the Dasara Sharannavaratri Utsavams and Vijayawada Utsav 2.0.
• Provides a platform for women from self-help groups to showcase and sell traditional crafts, handloom products and regional food items.

ENVIRONMENT

5. ASIATIC LIONS RETURN TO BARDA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AFTER 144 YEARS

Current Context: Asiatic lions have returned to Gujarat’s Barda Wildlife Sanctuary after 144 years, making it the second home of the Asiatic lion outside the Gir forest region.

ABOUT BARDA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• Location: Saurashtra region, Gujarat, spanning Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts.
• Area: Approximately 192.31 sq. km.
• Declared as a sanctuary: 1979.
• Distance from Porbandar town: Around 15 km.
• Asiatic lion population (2025 estimate): 17 lions, comprising six adult lions and 11 cubs.

REINTRODUCTION PROCESS

• The process commenced through natural dispersal of a male Asiatic lion from the Gir landscape into the Barda area in January 2023.
• Five females were subsequently brought in by the Gujarat Forest Department.
• Part of the Gir-Barda conservation programme started in 1979 to provide another home for the species.
• Prey-base enhancement involved relocation of spotted deer and sambar from the Gir protected area.

ENVIRONMENT

6. THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2026

Current Context: The FAO released the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) 2026 report, highlighting global forest restoration progress and the need to restore an additional 470 million hectares by 2030.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• SOFO 2026 is the biennial flagship assessment by the FAO that monitors the extent, health, governance and socioeconomic contributions of global forest ecosystems.
• The 2026 edition spotlights Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR).

KEY FINDINGS

• Forests span 14 billion hectares (approximately 32% of global land area), holding 714 gigatonnes of carbon and harbouring up to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity.
• More than 56 billion hectares of terrestrial land are degraded worldwide, including roughly 460 million hectares of forest land.
• The 2030 restoration deficit: only ~44 million hectares are actively reported under restoration, leaving a deficit of 470 million hectares.

INDIA’S PERFORMANCE

• India ranks first worldwide in total forest area under active restoration reported to FRA 2025, leading with 9.8 million hectares (ahead of China’s 7.9 million ha and Ethiopia’s 5.0 million ha).
• India, along with China, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Türkiye, accounts for approximately 70% of global forest restoration area reported in FRA 2025.
• India remains among the select group of Asian nations demonstrating sustained net positive forest area gains from 1990 to 2025.

DEFENCE

7. EXERCISE CAMBRIAN PATROL 2026

Current Context: Troops from the Indian Army’s Assam Regiment won the coveted Gold Medal at the prestigious Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026, held in Wales, United Kingdom.

ABOUT EXERCISE CAMBRIAN PATROL

• Widely regarded as the “Olympics of Military Patrolling.”
• Established: 1959 by Welsh Territorial Army soldiers.
• Hosted annually by the United Kingdom in the mountainous terrain of Wales under the British Army’s 160th (Welsh) Brigade.
• Attracts over 100 military teams from British and international armed forces.
• Aim: To assess leadership, physical endurance, tactical decision-making, fieldcraft and survival skills.

KEY FEATURES

• Challenging 48-Hour Patrol: Eight-member teams navigate over 60 km of mountainous terrain within 48 hours, carrying equipment weighing up to 32 kg.
• Performance-Based Evaluation: Teams earn gold, silver or bronze medals based on performance against fixed military standards.

HIMACHAL NEWS

8. HIMACHAL PRADESH INAUGURATES ITS FIRST SOLAR POWER PROJECT IN SPITI VALLEY

Current Context: Himachal Pradesh’s first solar power project with battery storage facility was inaugurated at Rongtong in Spiti Valley.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Capacity: 2 MW solar power plant with 1 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
• Expected generation: Approximately 36 lakh units of electricity per year.
• Construction commenced: 30 May 2023, commissioned in December 2024.

ABOUT BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS)

• BESS uses batteries to store electrical energy and discharge it when needed.
• It helps control fluctuations in the output of solar power plants and increases the flexibility of energy supply.

Download Pdf | Study Material | Downloads | Daily Quiz  | FREE Youtube Videos