Prelims Current Affairs includes Global family day, Fide world rapid chess championship 2025, Pinaka weapon system, Index of industrial production (iip), Rakesh aggarwal given additional charge as nia chief, India and rare earth elements and Death of khaleda zia

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD HINDI DAY  (Vishwa Hindi Diwas)

Observed every year on 10 January

Aim:  to promote the Hindi language at the global level.

• Historical Significance:
• It commemorates the first time Hindi was spoken at the United Nations General Assembly in 1949
  Global Presence:
• Hindi has nearly 600 million speakers worldwide
• It is the third most spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese and English

IMPORTANT DAY

2. UN DECLARES 2026 INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS

Current Context: The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists.

WHY THIS MATTERS

• Highlights neglected ecosystems like grasslands and savannahs
• Recognises their role in:
• Carbon sequestration
• Biodiversity conservation
• Climate resilience
• Aims to rebalance global climate action beyond forests

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. UIDAI LAUNCHES AADHAAR MASCOT ‘UDAI’

Current Context: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a new Aadhaar mascot named ‘Udai (उदय)’ to make Aadhaar services more people-friendly.

ABOUT AADHAAR MASCOT ‘UDAI’

• Launched By: UIDAI
• Nature: Resident-facing communication mascot
• Objective:
• To simplify Aadhaar-related information
• To humanise digital services
• To improve public understanding of Aadhaar

PURPOSE OF ‘UDAI’

• Explaining Aadhaar updates and corrections
• Aadhaar authentication and verification
• Offline Aadhaar verification
• Selective sharing of Aadhaar information
• Promoting responsible and secure Aadhaar usage
• Explaining new technologies linked with Aadhaar

STATE IN NEWS

4. INDIA’S FIRST BIO-HAPPY DISTRICT

Current Context: The newly formed Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh is set to become India’s first Bio-Happy District.

ABOUT BIO-HAPPY DISTRICT

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh
• Implementing Agency: S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
• Partners: District Administration
• Visionary Concept: Biohappiness introduced by S. Swaminathan

WHAT IS BIOHAPPINESS?

• A state of human well-being achieved through biodiversity conservation
• Focuses on improving:
• Nutrition
• Public health
• Income and livelihoods

KEY FOCUS AREAS

• Livelihood assessment
• Agro-biodiversity mapping
• Ecological system evaluation
• Traditional farming systems
• Indigenous knowledge practices

SIGNIFICANCE

• Arunachal Pradesh is part of the Eastern Himalayas, one of India’s most biodiverse regions
• The initiative follows a bottom-up, community-driven development model
• Expected to guide future policies for tribal and ecologically sensitive regions

REPORT

5. BEST INDIAN CITY FOR WOMEN – 2025

Current Context: Bengaluru has been ranked as the best city for women in India (2025) in a nationwide urban inclusion study.

ABOUT THE STUDY

• Released By: Avtar (Chennai-based inclusion firm)
• Cities Assessed: 125
• Assessment Tool: City Inclusion Index

TOP 5 CITIES (2025)

• Bengaluru – 53.29
• Chennai – 49.86
• Pune – 46.27
• Hyderabad
• Mumbai

TWO-PILLAR INCLUSION FRAMEWORK

• Social Inclusion Score:
• Safety and security
• Health and education
• Mobility and transport
• Liveability
• Industrial Inclusion Score:
• Formal employment availability
• Skilling and upskilling
• Corporate diversity policies
• Women’s workforce participation

WHY BENGALURU TOPPED

• Strong corporate ecosystem
• High concentration of formal sector jobs
• Major technology and service industries
• Widespread adoption of diversity and inclusion practices

DEFENCE

6. MISSION SUDARSHAN CHAKRA

Current Context: India has launched Mission Sudarshan Chakra to build a multi-layered air defence shield against modern aerial threats, especially hostile drones.

ABOUT MISSION SUDARSHAN CHAKRA

• Nature: National air defence modernisation programme
• Target Year: 2035
• Threats Covered:
• Fighter aircraft
• Missiles
• Unmanned aerial systems

Integrated With: Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS)

JOINT COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (CUAS) GRID

• Developed jointly by Army, Navy, and Air Force
• Integration of sensors, command centres, and response units
• Real-time data sharing
• Protection of borders, coastlines, and strategic installations

ORGANISATION

7. DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF MINES SAFETY (DGMS)

Current Context: DGMS celebrated its 125th Foundation Day in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

ABOUT DGMS

• Regulatory body under Ministry of Labour and Employment
• Ensures safety, health, and welfare of mine workers
• Administers Mines Act, 1952
• Headquarters: Dhanbad

E-GOVERNANCE

8. PANKHUDI PORTAL

Current Context: The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the PANKHUDI Portal.

ABOUT PANKHUDI PORTAL

• Single-window CSR and partnership platform
• Connects individuals, NRIs, NGOs, corporates, and government
• Focus Areas:
• Nutrition
• Health
• Early Childhood Care and Education
• Child welfare

Aim: Transparent and coordinated support for women and child development

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