Prelims Current Affairs includes Sayyad-3g Air Defence Missile, Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Apple Cultivation In India, Prashad Scheme, Palamu Tiger Reserve, Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (Tkdl) & Parliamentary Friendship Groups

DEFENCE

1. SAYYAD-3G AIR DEFENCE MISSILE

Current Context: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy recently tested the Sayyad-3G naval air defence missile.

ABOUT SAYYAD-3G MISSILE

• Country: Iran
• Type: Naval surface-to-air missile
• Origin: Derived from land-based Sayyad-3 missile
• Launch Platform: Ship-based Vertical Launch System
• Coverage: 360-degree air defence capability
• Target Profile: Warplanes, patrol aircraft, high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles
• Operational Role: Medium-range naval air defence
• Range: Approximately 150 kilometres
• Special Feature: Capable of autonomous tracking and network-based operation

SCHEME

2. PRIME MINISTER SURYA GHAR MUFT BIJLI YOJANA

Current Context: The Prime Minister highlighted the milestone of 30 lakh households adopting rooftop solar systems under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar scheme.

ABOUT PRIME MINISTER SURYA GHAR YOJANA

• Launched: 2024
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Objective: Promote rooftop solar installation for households
• Target Group: One crore households
• Benefit: Free electricity up to 300 units per month
• Duration: Up to Financial Year 2026–27
• Subsidy Support: Up to 40 percent based on consumption and capacity
• Significance: World’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative

GEOGRAPHY

3. APPLE CULTIVATION IN INDIA

Current Context: The Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey reported that apples account for nearly half of the Union Territory’s horticulture production.

ABOUT APPLE CULTIVATION

• Botanical Name: Malus pumila
• Category: Temperate fruit crop
• Temperature Requirement: Around 21–24 degrees Celsius during growth
• Altitude Range: 1,500 to 2,700 metres above sea level
• Rainfall: Approximately 1,000–1,250 millimetres annually
• Soil Type: Well-drained loamy soil

MAJOR PRODUCING REGIONS

• Primary Areas: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand
• Other Regions: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim

SCHEME

4. PRASHAD SCHEME

Current Context: The Central Government announced plans to develop tourism infrastructure around major temple destinations under the PRASHAD Scheme.

ABOUT PRASHAD SCHEME

• Full Form: Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive
• Launched: 2014–15
• Ministry: Ministry of Tourism
• Scheme Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Funding Pattern: Full Central Government funding
• Objective: Integrated development of pilgrimage destinations
• Focus Areas: Tourism infrastructure and visitor facilities
• Implementation: Mission Directorate under Ministry of Tourism
• Significance: Supports heritage tourism and local employment

ENVIRONMENT

5. PALAMU TIGER RESERVE

Current Context: Palamu Tiger Reserve launched the ‘Vanjeevi Didi’ initiative to engage trained women as conservation ambassadors.

ABOUT PALAMU TIGER RESERVE

• Location: Jharkhand
• Region: Chhotanagpur Plateau
• Associated Park: Betla National Park
• Project Tiger Status: Among the first nine tiger reserves
• Historic Fact: Early tiger census conducted using pugmark method
• Major Rivers: North Koyal, Auranga, Burha
• Vegetation Type: Moist and dry deciduous forests
• Dominant Flora: Sal and bamboo

POLICY AND PROGRAMMME

6. TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL LIBRARY (TKDL)

Current Context: India and Brazil signed a cooperation arrangement enabling Brazil’s patent authority access to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library.

ABOUT TKDL

• Established: 2001
• Developed By: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Ministry of AYUSH
• Objective: Prevent misappropriation of traditional knowledge
• Database Content: Over 5.2 lakh formulations
• Knowledge Sources: Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Yoga
• Languages Available: English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish
• Access Mechanism: Provided to patent offices under Non-Disclosure Agreements
• Significance: Global benchmark for protection of traditional knowledge

POLITY

7. PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUPS

Current Context: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with more than sixty countries.

ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUPS

• Purpose: Strengthen inter-parliamentary diplomacy
• Objective: Promote dialogue and legislative cooperation
• Functional Role: Facilitate exchange of parliamentary practices
• Significance: Complements traditional diplomatic engagement

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