Prelims Current Affairs includes Minorities Rights Day (India), International Migrants Day, Ethiopia’s Highest Civilian Award to PM Modi, India’s First Wildlife-Safe Highway (NH-45), Ponduru Khadi – GI Tag, Sujalam Bharat App, Gulf of Oman, Pax Silica Initiative.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. MINORITIES RIGHTS DAY (INDIA)

• Observed every year on 18 December in India.
• Aim: To promote awareness about the rights, safety, and welfare of minority communities.
• Observed to protect the rights of religious and linguistic minorities.
• Focuses on equality, dignity, and social harmony.

2. INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY

• Observed worldwide on 18 December.
• Aim: To highlight the rights, challenges, and contributions of migrants.
• Observed By: United Nations.
• Remembers migrants who lost their lives while seeking safety and better opportunities.

AWARD

3. ETHIOPIA’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD TO PM MODI

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Ethiopia’s highest national honour, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, during his official visit to Addis Ababa.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Highest civilian honour of Ethiopia.
• Awarded for strengthening international relations and global cooperation.
• Conferred by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali.

SIGNIFICANCE

• PM Modi became the first global Head of State or Government to receive this honour.
• This is the 28th top foreign State award received by PM Modi.
• Highlights India’s growing diplomatic influence in Africa and the Global South.

MISC

4. INDIA’S FIRST WILDLIFE-SAFE HIGHWAY (NH-45)

Current Context: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced India’s first wildlife-safe road on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh.

LOCATION

• 11.96 km stretch of NH-45 (Hiran–Sindoor section).
• Connects Bhopal and Jabalpur.
• Located near Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
• Area rich in wildlife such as tigers, deer, sambar, and jackals.

TABLE-TOP RED ROAD MARKINGS (FIRST IN INDIA)

• Slightly raised red chequered surfaces across the road.
• Create a table-top effect to naturally slow vehicles.
• Bright red colour improves visibility in forest areas.
• Installed along almost the entire forest stretch.

5. PONDURU KHADI — GI TAG

Current Context: Ponduru Khadi has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

ABOUT PONDURU KHADI

• Traditional handspun and handwoven cotton fabric.
• Local Name: Patnulu.
• Location: Ponduru village, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Selected under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
• Mentioned by Mahatma Gandhi in Young India during the pre-independence era.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• Cotton types used: Hill cotton, Punasa cotton, Red cotton.
• Cotton source: Indigenous to Srikakulam district.
• Production process: Entirely manual, from cotton cleaning to weaving.

UNIQUE FEATURES

• Cotton cleaning uses the jawbone of Valuga fish — a practice unique in the world.
• Spinning method uses single-spindle Gandhi Charkha with 24 spokes.
• Yarn count: Very high, around 100–120 counts.

E-GOVERNANCE

6. SUJALAM BHARAT APP

Current Context: The Union Minister of Jal Shakti launched the Sujalam Bharat App to strengthen rural drinking water governance.

ABOUT SUJALAM BHARAT APP

• Digital initiative under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Developed with support from Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).

KEY FEATURES

• Enables geo-referencing, monitoring, and management of rural water infrastructure.
• Integrates data related to:
  1. Water sources
  2. Infrastructure assets
  3. Scheme designs
  4. Operation & maintenance records
  5. Water quality reports
  6. Supply performance
  7. Community feedback

ABOUT SUJAL GAON ID

Provides a unique digital profile for every habitation showing:

• Drinking water source
• Infrastructure condition
• Supply reliability
• Water quality status
• Operation & maintenance arrangements

INTEGRATION & SIGNIFICANCE

• Integrated with PM Gati Shakti GIS platform.
• Supports accurate planning, repair, and expansion of water networks.
• Enhances transparency and accountability of Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs).
• Promotes community participation and oversight.

PLACE IN NEWS

7. GULF OF OMAN

Current Context: Iran seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, with crew members from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh onboard.

ABOUT GULF OF OMAN

• Also known as the Gulf of Makran.
• Northwestern arm of the Arabian Sea.
• Forms the only maritime entry from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf.
• Area: Around 115,000 sq km.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

• Connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz.
• Approximate length: 560 km.

BORDERING COUNTRIES

• North: Pakistan and Iran
• West: United Arab Emirates
• South: Oman

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

• Nearly one-third of global oil trade passes through the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.
• Key islands: Sheytan Island, Al Fahal Island, Dimaniyat Islands, Sawadi Islands.
• Major ports: Port Sultan Qaboos (Oman), Chabahar Port (Iran), Port of Fujairah & Khor Fakkan (UAE).

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

8. PAX SILICA INITIATIVE

Current Context: Concerns were raised over India’s exclusion from the United States-led Pax Silica Initiative, citing a decline in India–US relations.

ABOUT PAX SILICA INITIATIVE

• United States-led strategic initiative.
• Aims to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon and AI supply chain.
• Covers critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, logistics, and energy systems.

MEANING OF THE TERM

• Pax (Latin): Peace, stability, long-term prosperity.
• Silica: Source material refined into silicon for computer chips.

OBJECTIVES

• Reduce coercive dependencies in technology supply chains.
• Protect materials critical to AI and semiconductor ecosystems.
• Enable trusted nations to deploy transformative technologies at scale.

MEMBER COUNTRIES

Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Australia.

AREAS OF COOPERATION

• Critical minerals and semiconductor manufacturing.
• AI infrastructure and computing power.
• Energy grids and logistics networks.
• Protection of sensitive technologies and critical infrastructure.
• Development of trusted digital ecosystems including data centres and ICT systems.

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