Prelims Current Affairs includes International Women’s Day, Shahed Drones, Herstart 5.0 Programme, Oleum Gas, Project Hanuman, Raisina Dialogue, Brahmaputra Riverine Lighthouses Project & Pragati and Vikas Mascots for Census 2027

IMPORTANT DAY

1. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Observed On 8 March every year

• Objective: To recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and promote gender equality.
• Theme : Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
• Symbolic Colour: Purple represents women globally and symbolises justice and dignity.
• Colour Combination: Purple, Green and White symbolise women’s equality and empowerment.
• Origin of Colours: These colours were first used by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the United Kingdom in 1908 during the women’s suffrage movement

DEFENCE

2. SHAHED DRONES

Current Context: The United States recently expressed concerns about the growing military capabilities of Iran’s Shahed attack drones.

ABOUT SHAHED DRONES

• Developer: Iran
• Type: Low-cost one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Often referred to as “kamikaze” or “suicide drones”
• They function like guided missiles, flying toward a target and exploding on impact.

MAJOR VARIANTS

• Shahed-131
• Shahed-136
• Russia refers to them as Geran-1 and Geran-2

KEY FEATURES

• Range:
• Shahed-131: 700–900 km
• Shahed-136: 2,000–2,500 km
• Length: Around 5–3 metres
• Weight: About 200 kg
• Cost: Estimated $20,000–$50,000, making them cheaper than most missiles
• Often called the “poor man’s cruise missile”.

OPERATION

• Launched using a rocket booster, after which a piston engine takes over
• Can be launched from static rail systems or vehicles
• Uses GPS/GLONASS and inertial navigation systems for targeting.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. HERSTART 5.0 PROGRAMME

Current Context: The Gujarat Government launched her START 5.0 to strengthen women-led startups and entrepreneurship in the state.

ABOUT HERSTART 5.0

• Launched By: Gujarat Government
• Inaugurated By: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel
• Location of Launch: Gujarat University, Ahmedabad

OBJECTIVE

• Promote women entrepreneurship in the startup ecosystem
• Support women-led startups with resources and mentorship.

KEY FEATURES

• Incubation support for startups
• Mentorship programmes
• Networking opportunities
• Helps entrepreneurs in: Developing business models. Accessing investment opportunities. Expanding market reach.
• Implemented By: Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council.

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• A new Research Park was also inaugurated at Gujarat University to support innovation, research and entrepreneurship.

SCIENCE

4. OLEUM GAS

Current Context: A major oleum gas leak occurred at a chemical manufacturing unit in Boisar MIDC area of Palghar district, Maharashtra, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 2,600 people.

ABOUT OLEUM GAS

• Chemical Nature: Oleum is also known as fuming sulphuric acid.
• Composition: It is formed by dissolving sulphur trioxide (SO₃) in concentrated sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄).
• Physical Form: A colourless to pale yellow oily liquid that produces strong fumes when exposed to moist air.

FORMATION OF OLEUM GAS

• When oleum leaks into the atmosphere, it reacts with moisture in the air.
• This reaction forms dense white fumes or mist of sulphuric acid droplets and sulphur oxides, commonly referred to as “oleum gas.”
• The fumes can spread quickly in the surrounding air and are highly corrosive and hazardous.

PROPERTIES

• Acts as a very strong dehydrating and oxidising agent
• Reacts violently with water, releasing large amounts of heat
• Produces dense corrosive fumes that can travel some distance in the air.

USES

• Used in the manufacture and concentration of sulphuric acid
• Important in nitration reactions used to produce explosives, dyes and chemicals
• Also used in the production of detergents and other industrial chemicals.

HEALTH HAZARDS

• Highly corrosive to skin, eyes and respiratory tract
• Exposure may cause severe burns and eye damage
• Inhalation can lead to coughing, throat irritation and breathing difficulty
• High exposure may cause lung edema and risk of suffocation
• Long-term exposure to acid mist may damage lungs and teeth and is associated with cancer risk.

ENVIRONMENT

5. PROJECT HANUMAN

Current Context: The Government of Andhra Pradesh launched Project HANUMAN to address rising human–wildlife conflict in the state.

ABOUT PROJECT HANUMAN

• Full Form: Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife
• Launched By: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan
• Launch Date: 3 March 2026 (World Wildlife Day)

OBJECTIVE

• Reduce human-wildlife conflict
• Strengthen wildlife rescue, treatment and monitoring systems.

KEY FEATURES

• Deployment of 100 specialised vehicles
  • 93 rapid response vehicles
  • 7 wildlife ambulances
• Each unit includes: Forest officers, Veterinary staff, Tribal assistants, Trained support staff.
• WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTRES : Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Tirupati, Birlut.

COMPENSATION POLICY

• Compensation for death due to animal attack increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh
• Compensation for injured persons increased to ₹2 lakh.

MISCELLANEOUS

6. RAISINA DIALOGUE

Current Context: The Prime Minister inaugurated the 11^th edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

ABOUT RAISINA DIALOGUE

• India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics
• Started: 2016
• Location: Held annually in New Delhi
• Modelled on international forums such as: Munich Security Conference, Shangri-La Dialogue

ORGANISATION

• Hosted by Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
• In partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs

RAISINA DIALOGUE 2026

• Edition: 11th
• Theme: “Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”
• Around 2700 participants from 110 countries

MISCELLANEOUS

7. BRAHMAPUTRA RIVERINE LIGHTHOUSES PROJECT

Current Context: The Government of India laid foundation stones for the country’s first riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra River.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• River: Brahmaputra
• Waterway: National Waterway-2 (NW-2)
• Investment: ₹84 crore
• LOCATION : Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat

IMPLEMENTATION

• Implemented by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL)
• In collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
• Under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

SIGNIFICANCE

• First lighthouse infrastructure on an inland waterway in India
• Enables 24×7 safe navigation for vessels
• Supports cargo movement, inland waterways transport and tourism in Northeast India.

MISCELLANEOUS

8. PRAGATI AND VIKAS MASCOTS FOR CENSUS 2027

Current Context: The Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the official mascots ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’ and launched digital tools for Census 2027 in New Delhi.

ABOUT CENSUS 2027

• It will be the world’s largest census exercise
• Conducted across India in two phases
• More than 30 lakh enumerators and officials will participate.

DIGITAL FEATURES

• First fully digital census in India
• Citizens will have the option of Self-Enumeration (online submission of data)
• Digital platforms developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

ABOUT THE MASCOTS

• Pragati (female) and Vikas (male) are the official mascots
• Represent gender equality and equal participation in development
• Will spread public awareness about the census
• Symbolise India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

DIGITAL TOOLS INTRODUCED

• Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC): Web tool to create digital house listing blocks using satellite imagery
• HLO Mobile Application: Mobile app for enumerators to collect house data in the field
• Self Enumeration Portal: Citizens can submit their census information online
• Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS): Central dashboard to monitor census progress.

Download Pdf | Study Material | Downloads | Daily Quiz  | FREE Youtube Videos