Prelims Current Affairs includes International Human Solidarity Day, Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Project Mausam, Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan, Exercise Ekatha 2025, Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill 2025, First Gen Z Post Office, Ram Sutar.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY

• Observed globally on 20 December.
• Aim: To promote unity, cooperation, and collective action against global challenges.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY

• Highlights the importance of unity in diversity among nations and societies.
• Encourages collective efforts to fight poverty, hunger, and disease.
• Reinforces values of social justice, equality, and shared responsibility.

ENVIRONMENT

2. VELLODE BIRD SANCTUARY

Current Context: Migratory birds have begun arriving at the Vellode Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, indicating favourable wetland and climatic conditions.

ABOUT VELLODE BIRD SANCTUARY

• Location: Vadamugam Vellode near Erode, Tamil Nadu.
• Monsoon: Receives rainfall from the Northeast monsoon.
• Flyway: Lies on the Central Asian Flyway.
• Wetland Status: Designated a Ramsar Site (2022).

ECOLOGICAL FEATURES

• Water Source: Lower Bhavani Project canal seepage and rainwater.
• Fauna: Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Sandpipers, Bee-eaters.
• Flora: Cayratia pedata, Tephrosia purpurea, Commelina tricolor.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. PROJECT MAUSAM

Current Context: The Archaeological Survey of India organised a national workshop under Project Mausam to strengthen research on maritime heritage.

ABOUT PROJECT MAUSAM

• Launch Year: 2014.
• Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Nature: Cultural diplomacy and maritime heritage initiative.
• Coverage: 39 Indian Ocean countries.

OBJECTIVES

• Document cultural, commercial, and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean region.
• Facilitate transnational UNESCO World Heritage nominations.
• Promote multidisciplinary research on ancient maritime routes.

4. BHARAT RANBHOOMI DARSHAN

Current Context: Sikkim declared Cho La and Dok La open for tourists under Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan.

ABOUT BHARAT RANBHOOMI DARSHAN

• Ministries: Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Tourism.
• Aim: Promote border tourism and national heritage.
• Approach: Connectivity, tourism, and socio-economic development in border regions.
• Implementation: Indian Army with civil authorities.

KEY FEATURES

• Virtual tours and interactive battlefield content.
• Shortlisted sites include Galwan Valley and Doklam.
• Coverage: 77 forward locations.
• Sites along LAC (China) and LoC (Pakistan).

IMPLEMENTATION

• Nodal Agency: Archaeological Survey of India.
• Supporting Bodies: IGNCA and National Museum.

DEFENCE

5. EXERCISE EKATHA 2025

Current Context: Deputy Chief of Naval Staff attended the closing ceremony of Exercise Ekatha 2025 in Maldives.

ABOUT EXERCISE EKATHA

• Annual bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force.
• Started: 2017.
• Edition: 8th edition in 2025.
• Objective: Enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability.

ACTIVITIES

• Diving operations
• Boarding drills
• Firing exercises
• Demolition and explosive handling
• Asymmetric warfare
• Heli-borne operations

KEY FACTS ABOUT MALDIVES

• Island nation in north-central Indian Ocean.
• Around 1,200 coral islands grouped into atolls.
• Asia’s smallest country by land area.
• Capital: Male.
• Highly vulnerable to sea-level rise.

POLITY

6. SABKA BIMA SABKI RAKSHA (AMENDMENT OF INSURANCE LAWS) BILL, 2025

Current Context: Lok Sabha passed the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill, 2025.

ABOUT THE BILL

Objective: Accelerate insurance sector growth and strengthen policyholder protection.

ACTS AMENDED

• Insurance Act, 1938
• Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956
• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999

KEY PROVISIONS

• FDI Limit: Increased from 74% to 100%.
• Policyholders’ Education and Protection Fund under IRDAI.
• Reinsurance Norms: Net-owned fund reduced from ₹5,000 crore to ₹1,000 crore.
• Regulatory Powers: Enhanced powers to IRDAI similar to SEBI.
• LIC Autonomy: Allowed to open zonal offices without prior government approval.

MISC

7. FIRST GEN Z POST OFFICE

Current Context: Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated its first Gen Z Post Office at AIIMS Vijaypur.

ABOUT GEN Z POST OFFICE

• Location: AIIMS Vijaypur, Jammu and Kashmir.
• First AIIMS campus in India with a Gen Z Post Office.
• Part of Department of Posts’ modernisation initiative.

VISION AND OBJECTIVE

• Youth-friendly, technology-driven postal services.
• Customer-centric public service delivery.

KEY FEATURES

• Digital payments and simplified services.
• Integrated postal, banking, and insurance services.
• Awareness of postal savings schemes and IPPB services.

PERSON IN NEWS

8. RAM SUTAR

Current Context: Renowned sculptor Ram Sutar, designer of the Statue of Unity, passed away at the age of 100.

ABOUT RAM SUTAR

• Born on 19 February 1925, Gondur village, Dhule, Maharashtra.
• Gold medallist from Sir J. J. School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai.
• Artistic career spanning over seven decades.

ICONIC WORKS

• Statue of Unity (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel).
• Statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Parliament complex.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

• Padma Shri (1999)
• Padma Bhushan (2016)
• Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar

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