Prelims Current Affairs includes GOA Liberation Day, Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill 2025, Param Vir Dirgha, Central Information Commission (CIC), Ekam AI and Sambhav Project, Dhruv64 Microprocessor, AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. GOA LIBERATION DAY

• Observed on 19 December.
• Aim: To commemorate the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961 by the Indian Armed Forces.
• Marks the end of over 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule in Goa.
• Commemorates Operation Vijay, conducted in December 1961.

POLITY

2. VIKSIT BHARAT SHIKSHA ADHISHTHAN (VBSA) BILL, 2025

Current Context: The Union Government introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 in the Winter Session of Parliament to reform higher education regulation in line with National Education Policy, 2020.

ABOUT VBSA BILL

Objective: Simplify regulation, improve academic quality, and enhance global competitiveness of higher educational institutions.

Repealed Acts:

• University Grants Commission Act, 1956
• All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987
• National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993

VBSA COMMISSION:

• Single umbrella body to regulate higher education
• President and up to 12 Members appointed by the President of India

Coverage:
Covers all higher educational institutions under the Ministry of Education for standard setting

THREE COUNCILS:

• Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulation)
• Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation)
• Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards)

Council of Architecture:
Functions as a Professional Standard Setting Body under NEP 2020

Funding:
Centrally funded institutions remain outside VBSA’s funding control

Penalties:
₹10 lakh to ₹2 crore by Regulatory Council

DEFENCE

3. PARAM VIR DIRGHA

Current Context: The President of India inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Vijay Diwas 2025.

ABOUT PARAM VIR DIRGHA

• Dedicated gallery displaying portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
• Honours India’s highest military heroes.
• Replaces colonial-era portraits, symbolising national pride.

ABOUT PARAM VIR CHAKRA

• India’s highest wartime gallantry award.
• Instituted in 1950.
• Awarded 21 times, mostly posthumously.

4. AH-64E APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTER

Current Context: Indian Army received the final batch of AH-64E Apache helicopters at Jodhpur.

ABOUT AH-64E APACHE

• Multi-role attack helicopter.
• Country of Origin: USA
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Also known as Apache Guardian

INDIAN DEPLOYMENT

• Indian Air Force: 22 helicopters
• Indian Army: 6 helicopters

KEY FEATURES

• Twin-engine ground-attack helicopter
• Armed with Hellfire missiles, rockets, and 30 mm chain gun
• Advanced infrared and night-vision targeting systems
• Capable of tracking multiple targets

ORGANISATION

5. CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION (CIC)

Current Context: Raj Goyal assumed charge as the Chief Information Commissioner.

ABOUT CIC

• Statutory body under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
• Consists of 1 Chief Information Commissioner and up to 10 Information Commissioners.
• Hears complaints and appeals related to RTI.
• Appointments made by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee led by the Prime Minister.

RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019:
Empowers Central Government to decide service conditions.

DEFENCE / SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

6. EKAM AI AND SAMBHAV PROJECT

Current Context: Indian Army showcased Ekam AI and SAMBHAV during Vijay Diwas celebrations.

ABOUT EKAM AI

• Fully indigenous and secure Artificial Intelligence platform.
• Designed for sensitive environments.

FEATURES:

• Data analysis and decision support
• No foreign software or external cloud dependency
• Usable without specialised technical expertise

SIGNIFICANCE:

• Ensures data security and sovereignty
• Strengthens trusted national digital systems

ABOUT SAMBHAV
Portable satellite-based communication system.

FEATURES:
Rapid mobile connectivity in remote and disaster-affected areas

SIGNIFICANCE:

• Enhances military communication
• Strengthens national communication infrastructure

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7. DHRUV64 MICROPROCESSOR

Current Context: India unveiled its first fully indigenous microprocessor DHRUV64.

ABOUT DHRUV64

• Fully indigenous 64-bit microprocessor.
• Developed by C-DAC under the Microprocessor Development Programme.

KEY FEATURES

• 64-bit dual-core processor operating at 1.0 GHz.
• Supports superscalar execution and out-of-order processing.
• Advanced FCBGA package with integrated communication and control functions.

APPLICATIONS

• Strategic and commercial sectors:
  1. 5G
  2. Automotive
  3. Electronics
  4. Industrial automation
  5. Internet of Things (IoT)
• Enables startups, academia, and industry to build indigenous systems.

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