Prelims Current Affairs includes Kapas Kisan App, Shri Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer (Bihar cadre), assumed charge as the CEO of FSSAI, Dr. Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch IFS officer has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to the UAE, Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, 32-bit microprocessor Vikram 3201, BWF Badminton World Championships 2026 and APEDA launched BHARATI Initiative.

APPOINTMENTS

1. RAJIT PUNHANI APPOINTED CEO OF FSSAI

Current Context: Shri Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer (Bihar cadre), assumed charge as the CEO of FSSAI.

About FSSAI

• Full Form: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

• Established under: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

• Type: Autonomous body

• Works under: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India

• Headquarters: New Delhi

• Mandate: Lays down standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure safe and wholesome food.

2. DR. DEEPAK MITTAL – INDIA’S NEW ENVOY TO UAE

Current Context: Dr. Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to the UAE.

About UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

• Location: Southeastern Arabian Peninsula; borders Saudi Arabia (west & south), Oman (east & southeast), and maritime borders with Iran.

• Area: ~71,000 sq. km (Abu Dhabi covers ~84% of total area).

• Terrain:

  • Coastal plains (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah)

  • Vast deserts (part of Rub’ al Khali)

  • Hajar Mountains in the east

• Official Language: Arabic (English widely used); courts also recognize Chinese, French, Hindi, Russian.

• Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)

GOVERNANCE

3. KAPAS KISAN APP

Current Context: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh launched the Kapas Kisan App.

Aim: To streamline cotton procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) and protect farmers from distress sales.

About the App

• Self-Registration → Farmers register using Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers.

• Slot Booking → Farmers can book delivery slots to avoid long queues.

• Payment Tracking → Real-time monitoring of payment status.

• Language Accessibility → Multiple Indian languages for inclusivity.

• Design → Simple, farmer-centric interface.

Significance

• Ensures transparent and timely MSP procurement.

• Reduces dependence on middlemen.

• Supports the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in digitized records and logistics.

• Aligns with Digital India and Agri-Tech push.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

4. RAJYA JEEVIKA NIDHI SAAKH SAHKARI SANGH LIMITED

Current Context: PM Narendra Modi launched Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited.

Objective: Provide digital, affordable loans to rural women entrepreneurs.
Initial Fund: ₹105 crore transferred to the institution’s account.

About Jeevika Nidhi

• A state-level cooperative society for financial assistance at low interest rates.

• Alternative to costly microfinance institutions (18%–24% interest).

• Membership: All registered cluster-level federations under Jeevika are members.

• Governance: Jointly funded by State and Central Government.

Features

• Digital Model → Direct benefit transfer into bank accounts of Jeevika Didis.

• Tech Support → 12,000 cadres equipped with tablets for outreach and monitoring.

SCIENCE

5. VIKRAM 3201 MICROPROCESSOR

Current Context: India unveiled its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor Vikram 3201 at the Semicon India 2025 conference.

About Vikram 3201

• Developed by: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)

• Fabricated at: ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh

• Predecessor: Vikram 1601 (16-bit, used in launch vehicles since 2009)

• Purpose: Specially designed for rockets and satellites (not consumer devices)

• Functions:

  • Navigation

  • Control and mission management in launch vehicles

  • Real-time calculations to ensure rocket stability and course accuracy

Key Features

• Military-grade design: Works in –55°C to +125°C, resistant to vibration, heat, radiation

• Upgrades over Vikram 1601:

  • Supports 64-bit floating-point operations

  • Compatible with Ada programming language

  • On-chip 1553B bus interfaces for secure communication

Significance: First time India has indigenously designed and fabricated a processor of this scale for launch vehicle avionics.

SPORTS

6. 2026 BADMINTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Current Context: New Delhi will host the BWF Badminton World Championships 2026, announced at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Paris edition.

About the Event

• Host: New Delhi, India

• Last hosted in India: 2009 (Hyderabad)

• Last hosted in Asia: 2018 (Nanjing, China)

Significance

• • Enhances India’s sporting profile

  • Boosts sports tourism and global engagement

  • Celebrates success of Indian badminton stars

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

7. BHARATI INITIATIVE BY APEDA

Current Context: APEDA launched BHARATI initiative to strengthen India’s agri-food exports.

About BHARATI

• Full Form: Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement

• Launched by: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

• Target: Empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups

• Vision: Achieve USD 50 billion agri-food exports by 2030

Focus Areas

• High-value exports: GI-tagged products, organic foods, superfoods, livestock, AYUSH products

• Tech integration: AI-based quality control, blockchain traceability, IoT-enabled cold chains, agri-fintech

• Startup support: 3-month acceleration program covering product development, compliance, and market access

ORGANISATION

8. COCONUT DEVELOPMENT BOARD (CDB)

Current Context: The Coconut Development Board celebrated World Coconut Day by launching newly revised schemes for the integrated development of the coconut sector.

About CDB

• Established on: 12 January 1981

• Type: Statutory body

• Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India

• Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala

• Regional Offices: Bangalore (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Guwahati (Assam), Patna (Bihar)

Functions of CDB

• Promote integrated development of coconut production and utilization

• Provide technical advice to coconut cultivators and industry

• Offer financial assistance for expansion of coconut area

• Encourage modern processing technologies for value addition

• Suggest measures for remunerative prices for coconut products

• Recommend improvements in marketing, imports, and exports

• Fix grades, standards, and specifications for coconut and its products

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