Prelims Current Affairs includes Asia’s Largest Tulip Garden, Seventh National Report to CBD, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Program, Nagoya Protocol, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 & Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025

PLACE IN NEWS

1. ASIA’S LARGEST TULIP GARDEN

Current Context: The Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir inaugurated Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar, marking the beginning of the spring tourism season in Kashmir.

ABOUT TULIP GARDEN

• Name: Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
• Location: Foothills of Zabarwan Range, overlooking Dal Lake, Srinagar
• Area: 74 acres

KEY FEATURES

• Around 8 million tulips planted
• Contains 70–75 varieties of tulips
• Many varieties imported from the Netherlands

SIGNIFICANCE

• Largest tulip garden in Asia
• Major tourist attraction during spring season
• Boosts tourism and local economy in Kashmir

REPORT

2. SEVENTH NATIONAL REPORT TO CBD

Current Context: India submitted its Seventh National Report (NR-7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) highlighting progress in biodiversity conservation.

ABOUT REPORT

• Submitted under Article 26 of CBD
• Based on 142 national indicators
• Tracks progress against 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs)

KEY FINDINGS

• All 23 National Biodiversity Targets are on track
• Aligns with Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)

BIODIVERSITY STATUS IN INDIA

• Recorded Forest Area: 7,75,377 sq km (23.59%)
• Forest Cover: 5,20,365 sq km (15.83%)
• Total Forest & Tree Cover: 8,27,356 sq km (25.17%)
• Ramsar Sites: Increased from 26 (2014) to 98 (2026)

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

• Tiger Reserves: 58
• Elephant Reserves: 33
• Biosphere Reserves: 18
• National Parks: 106
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: 574
• Tiger population: 3,682
• Elephants: 22,446
• Asiatic Lions: 891
• One-horned Rhinoceros: 4,014
• Snow Leopard: 718
• River Dolphins: 6,327

APPOINTMENT

3. AUTOMOTIVE TYRE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (ATMA)

Current Context: Arun Mammen has been re-elected as Chairman of ATMA.

ABOUT ATMA

• Established in 1975
• Apex body representing tyre manufacturers in India

LEADERSHIP

• Chairman: Arun Mammen (MRF Ltd)
• Vice Chairman: Rajarshi Moitra (Bridgestone India)

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

4. UTTAR PRADESH CLEAN AIR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Current Context: The World Bank and Government of India launched a $299.66 million programme to improve air quality in Uttar Pradesh.

ABOUT PROGRAM

• Focuses on reducing air pollution across key sectors:
  • Transport, Agriculture, Industry

KEY FEATURES

• Installation of ~200 air quality monitoring stations
• Real-time data through Pollution Control Board

WORLD BANK ROLE

• Additional $150 million private investment mobilised
• Supports: Electric buses, Electric three-wheelers, Emission monitoring systems

SIGNIFICANCE

• Improves air quality management and public health
• Promotes sustainable development

ENVIRONMENT

5. NAGOYA PROTOCOL

Current Context: India submitted its first National Report on the Nagoya Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

ABOUT NAGOYA PROTOCOL

• Adopted in
• Focuses on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources.

INDIA’S FRAMEWORK

• Based on Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• Supported by:
  • Biological Diversity Rules, 2024
  • ABS Regulations, 2025

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)
• Over 76 lakh BMCs established

FINANCIAL OUTCOMES

• ₹216.31 crore mobilised (NBA)
• ₹139.69 crore distributed to communities
• ₹51.96 crore generated by states

HEALTH & DISEASE

6. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)

Current Context: Gujarat launched a statewide vaccination campaign to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

ABOUT FMD

• A highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals.
• Virus: Aphthovirus (Family: Picornaviridae)
• Transmission : Through infected animals, contaminated materials, and environment.

SIGNIFICANCE

• A transboundary animal disease (TAD)
• Impacts livestock economy and trade

DEFENCE

7. EXERCISE SEA DRAGON 2026

Current Context: The Indian Navy is participating in Exercise Sea Dragon 2026, a US-led multinational naval exercise.

ABOUT EXERCISE

• Focuses on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
• Conducted at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
• PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES : India, United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand

KEY FEATURES

• Use of P-8I (India) and P-8A aircraft
• Includes real-time submarine tracking operations

SIGNIFICANCE

• Enhances maritime security cooperation in Indo-Pacific
• Strengthens India’s strategic naval capabilities.

AWARDS

8. SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARDS 2025

Current Context: Sahitya Akademi announced awards for 2025 recognising literary works in 24 Indian languages.

ABOUT SAHITYA AKADEMI

• India’s National Academy of Letters
• Established in 1954

KEY FACTS

• Awards given in 24 languages
• Covers genres like: Poetry, Novels, Short stories, Essays, Memoirs, Criticism.
• Significance : Promotes literary excellence and linguistic diversity in India.

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