Prelims Current Affairs includes National Strategic Trade Command Centre (Nstcc), Kufri Jamunia – Biofortified Purple Potato, 10 Years Of Kigali Amendment, Global Hunger Index 2026, India-Australia Exercise Austrahind 2026 Begins In Kerala, Army Conducts Akhand Prahar-Ii Exercise In Jaisalmer & Global Rhythms To Meet Kullu’s Rich Deity Traditions At Dasehra

ECONOMY / TRADE

1. NATIONAL STRATEGIC TRADE COMMAND CENTRE (NSTCC)

Current Context: The Commerce and Industry Minister launched the National Strategic Trade Command Centre (NSTCC) in New Delhi.

ABOUT NSTCC

• Developed by: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in coordination with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• Nature: An integrated data analytics and visualisation platform that brings trade-related information together through interactive dashboards.
• Main Objective: To improve monitoring of India’s trade performance, export promotion schemes, regulatory approvals and trade facilitation processes.

KEY FEATURES

• Designed to leverage existing digital infrastructure, including DGFT systems and the Trade Connect ePlatform.
• Provides a framework for the phased integration of additional datasets from other departments and trade-related agencies.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2. KUFRI JAMUNIA – BIOFORTIFIED PURPLE POTATO

Current Context: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) highlighted Kufri Jamunia, an indigenously developed biofortified purple potato variety, as a major breakthrough in combating hidden hunger.

ABOUT KUFRI JAMUNIA

• Developed by: ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, through biofortification research to combat hidden hunger.
• Builds on earlier coloured varieties: Kufri Neelkanth (2018), known for purple skin and antioxidants, and Kufri Manik (2021), featuring red skin and yellow flesh.
• Type: Biofortified, purple-fleshed specialty table potato.
• Release year:
• Distinctive Feature: It has dark purple skin and purple flesh due to its natural pigments, particularly anthocyanins.
• Agro-climatic suitability: Recommended for the Northern, Central and Eastern plains of India.
• Geographical Adaptability: Demonstrates stable performance across major potato-growing regions, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

ENVIRONMENT

3. 10 YEARS OF KIGALI AMENDMENT

Current Context: The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol marked its 10th anniversary, putting renewed focus on global commitments to curb potent hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

ABOUT THE KIGALI AMENDMENT

• Adopted: 15 October 2016, at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Entered into force: 1 January 2019.
• Parent agreement: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted in 1987.
• Administered under: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ozone Secretariat.
• Main objective: To gradually phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, which are powerful greenhouse gases used mainly in refrigeration, air conditioning and other cooling applications.
• It is a legally binding international treaty amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

KEY FEATURES

• Legally Binding Differentiated Phase-Down Schedules: Establishes a four-group architecture dividing countries into developed (non-Article 5) and developing (Article 5) tiers.
• India’s Specific Compliance Trajectory: India (grouped under Article 5 Group 2) ratified the pact in 2021; it must freeze its HFC baseline in 2028, execute an initial 10% cut by 2032 and achieve an 85% cumulative reduction by 2047.
• Phase-Down Rather Than Complete Phase-Out: The treaty permits a residual baseline (15% to 20%) for specialized industrial, medical and niche cooling applications.
• Multilateral Fund (MLF) Financial & Technical Architecture: Provides dedicated grant-based financing and technology transfer to developing economies.
• Synergistic Appliance Energy Efficiency Focus: Drives equipment redesign toward low-GWP refrigerants.

REPORTS / INDICES

4. GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX 2026

Current Context: India is ranked 100 out of 122 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026 with a score of 24.1, while Pakistan stands 106th with 25.5.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• The 2026 report was published by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at Ruhr University Bochum, and Helvetas.
• Theme: “No Security Without Food Security.”
• Global hunger score:1, rated as moderate.
• The GHI scores range from 0 to 100, where lower scores show lower hunger levels.

INDIA’S KEY INDICATORS

• Rank: 100th out of 122 countries.
• GHI score:1 (serious hunger category).
• Child stunting:3% among children below five years of age.
• Child wasting: Nearly 19%, the highest percentage worldwide.
• Under-five mortality rate: 2.7%-2.9%.
• Child stunting decreased from 50% in 2000 to 29.3%, showing long-term progress.

KEY FINDINGS

• About 645 million hungry people across the globe.
• Since 2018, three of the four GHI indicators have worsened globally: undernourishment, child stunting and child wasting.
• Hunger has worsened in 32 countries since 2018.
• Eight countries belong to the alarming group: Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen.
• About 57 countries will fail to attain low hunger levels by 2030 if the trend remains unchanged.
• Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia remain the hardest-hit areas.

DEFENCE

5.  INDIA-AUSTRALIA EXERCISE AUSTRAHIND 2026 BEGINS IN KERALA

Current Context: The fifth edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 began on 19 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

ABOUT THE EXERCISE

• Bilateral army exercise involving Indian and Australian Army personnel.
• The previous edition was held at Irwin Barracks in Perth, Australia, from 13 to 26 October 2025.
• Theme: “Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.”
• Training activities include coordinated operations in coastal and island environments, surveillance, reconnaissance, protection of vital installations, and responses to HADR contingencies.

DEFENCE

6. ARMY CONDUCTS AKHAND PRAHAR-II EXERCISE IN JAISALMER

Current Context: The Indian Army conducted Akhand Prahar-II in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

ABOUT THE EXERCISE

• It involved the Army’s Black Mace Brigade and Battle Axe Division.
• Focus: Combat readiness, technology-enabled operations and coordination among military resources.
• It followed Akhand Prahar-I and tested combat procedures using next-generation military equipment and modern assets.
• The exercise took place in a multi-dimensional operational environment, practising swift and precise action under changing battlefield conditions.

HIMACHAL NEWS

7. GLOBAL RHYTHMS TO MEET KULLU’S RICH DEITY TRADITIONS AT DASEHRA

Current Context: The International Kullu Dasehra is set to offer a vibrant confluence of global cultures, folk traditions and artistic performances from October 21 to 27, 2026.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

• Location: Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Duration: Seven days.
• Month: October, beginning around Vijayadashami.
• Historical origin: The tradition dates back to the 17th century, during the reign of Raja Jagat Singh.
• Principal deity: Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of the Kullu Valley.
• Distinctive feature: Unlike many Dussehra celebrations that conclude on Vijayadashami, Kullu Dussehra begins around this time and continues for a week.
• Cultural identity: It is a unique combination of religious devotion, local deity traditions, folk music, dance, handicrafts and international cultural performances.

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