Prelims Current Affairs includes International Anti-Corruption Day, Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), Sainik Tujhe Salaam Programme – Assam, Interpol Red Notice, Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA).

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY

Observed every year on 9 December.

Aim: To raise awareness about the harmful effects of corruption on society and development.
Theme 2025: “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”.

SUMMIT / ORGANISATION

2. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR SAFEGUARDING OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE (ICH)

Current Context: India is hosting the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi from 8 to 13 December 2025.

ABOUT ICH AND THE COMMITTEE

ICH Definition (UNESCO): Cultural identity elements like traditional practices, expressions, craftsmanship, knowledge, and cultural spaces.

Convention: Adopted on 17 October 2003 during UNESCO’s 32nd General Conference in Paris.

Purpose of the 2003 Convention:

• Safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage
• Ensuring respect for traditional cultures
• Raising awareness about the importance of ICH
• Promoting global cooperation and assistance

Membership:

• 24 members elected for 4-year terms
• Elections held every two years at the General Assembly
• India is a member (2022–2026)

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. SAINIK TUJHE SALAAM PROGRAMME — ASSAM

Current Context: Assam has launched a new welfare initiative called Sainik Tujhe Salaam on Armed Forces Flag Day to honour senior military veterans and their families.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

Focus Group:

• Veterans above 90 years of age
• Veer Naris and Veer Mothers

Support System: Annual home visits by district administration and sainik welfare offices.
Purpose: To recognise service, ensure welfare support, and maintain continuous care for the veteran community.

ASSAM’S VETERAN WELFARE NETWORK

• Nearly 41,968 ex-servicemen and 10,361 Veer Naris reside in the state.
• Welfare support provided through:
  1. Directorate of Sainik Welfare
  2. 21 district sainik welfare offices
• Assam has received special commendation from the Defence Minister for effective veteran welfare outreach.

ORGANISATION

4. INTERPOL RED NOTICE

Current Context: Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau apprehended an international wildlife criminal wanted under an INTERPOL Red Notice.

ABOUT INTERPOL RED NOTICE

Purpose: International alert to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person.
Basis: Issued on the basis of a valid arrest warrant or court order.
Not an Arrest Warrant: Member countries apply their own laws to decide arrest.
Issued By: INTERPOL on request of a member country.
Handled in India By: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the National Central Bureau.

INFORMATION CONTAINED

Identification details: Name, nationality, date of birth, photographs, fingerprints.
Crime details: Serious offences such as murder, rape, child abuse, armed robbery, fraud.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

5. DIGITAL HUB FOR REFERENCE AND UNIQUE VIRTUAL ADDRESS (DHRUVA)

Current Context: Department of Posts released a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023 to introduce DHRUVA, a new interoperable and standardised digital addressing system.

ABOUT DHRUVA

Developer: Department of Posts
Concept: Forms the base for a nationwide Digital Address – Digital Public Infrastructure
Purpose: Standardised, geocoded, secure, and consent-based digital addressing
Core Principle: Address-as-a-Service (AaaS)

BENEFITS

• Single interoperable address system
• Secure sharing with user consent & privacy
• Supports e-governance, logistics, e-commerce, urban planning & emergency services

USER-CENTRIC FEATURES

• Full citizen control over updating and sharing addresses
• Mobile-first access & multilingual support
• Aadhaar-based secure authentication

ALIGNMENT WITH DIGITAL INDIA

• Recognises addresses as core digital infrastructure like Aadhaar & UPI
• Enables government & private sector innovation

ABOUT DIGIPIN (EARLIER INITIATIVE)

• Developed by Department of Posts with IIT Hyderabad & NRSC-ISRO
• Open-source geo-coded addressing system
• India divided into 4 m × 4 m grids
• Each grid assigned a 10-character alphanumeric code

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