Prelims Current Affairs includes India’s Major Ports Handle Record 915.17 Mt Cargo In Fy26, Irdai Retains Lic, New India Assurance & Gic As D-Siis, India Adds Highest Ever Wind Power Capacity In Fy2025-26, One Health Summit 2026 In Lyon, France, Menaka Guruswamy Becomes India’s First Openly Queer Mp, To Lam Becomes Vietnam President, Indian Softsell Turtle Rescue Highlights Illegal Wildlife Trade & Himachal Pradesh Panchayat Election Reservation Roster

ECONOMY & INFRASTRUCTURE

1. INDIA’S MAJOR PORTS HANDLE RECORD 915.17 MT CARGO IN FY26

Current Context: India’s maritime sector has achieved a significant milestone with major ports handling a record 915.17 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in FY 2025-26, exceeding the annual target of 904 MT with 7.06% year-on-year growth.

ABOUT THE RECORD CARGO HANDLING

• Announced by:Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
• Top Performing Ports:
• Deendayal Port Authority:11 MT (Gujarat)
• Paradip Port Authority:45 MT (Odisha)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority:01 MT (Maharashtra)
• Fastest Growing Ports:
• Mormugao Port Authority:91% growth (Goa)
• Kolkata Dock System:28% growth (West Bengal)
• JNPA:74% growth

ECONOMY

2. IRDAI RETAINS LIC, NEW INDIA ASSURANCE & GIC AS D-SIIs

Current Context: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has identified LIC, New India Assurance, and GIC as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for FY 2025-26.

ABOUT D-SIIs

• Status:List remains unchanged from previous financial year
• Characteristics of D-SIIs:
  • Large size and high market importance
  • Strong domestic and global interconnectedness
  • Their failure could disrupt the financial system
  • Continuous functioning is crucial for economic stability

ECONOMY

3.  INDIA ADDS HIGHEST EVER WIND POWER CAPACITY IN FY2025-26

Current Context: India has achieved a historic milestone in clean energy by adding a record 6.05 GW of wind power capacity in FY 2025-26, marking the highest ever annual addition.

ABOUT WIND ENERGY GROWTH

• Announced by:Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Growth Rate:46% increase compared to FY 2024-25
• Total Installed Wind Capacity:Crossed 56 GW
• Previous Peak:5 GW (2016-17)
• Top Contributing States:

1. 1. Gujarat
   2. Karnataka
   3. Maharashtra

SUMMITS

4.  ONE HEALTH SUMMIT 2026 IN LYON, FRANCE

Current Context: The One Health Summit 2026 is being held from 5th to 7th April in Lyon, France, hosted by the Government of France as part of its G7 Presidency.

ABOUT ONE HEALTH SUMMIT 2026

• Coincides with:World Health Day (April 7)
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Zoonotic reservoirs and vectors
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • Sustainable food systems
  • Exposure to pollutions

APPOINTMENTS

5. MENAKA GURUSWAMY BECOMES INDIA’S FIRST OPENLY QUEER MP

Current Context: Menaka Guruswamy took oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, becoming India’s first openly queer (LGBTQ+) MP.

ABOUT MENAKA GURUSWAMY

• Known for:Role in shaping constitutional law
• Role in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018):
  • Supreme Court struck down parts of Section 377
  • Decriminalized consensual same-sex relationships
  • Her legal advocacy ensured constitutional protection of equality and dignity

APPOINTMENTS

6. TO LAM BECOMES VIETNAM PRESIDENT

Current Context: Vietnam’s National Assembly has unanimously elected Communist Party General Secretary To Lam as the country’s state president for a five-year term, consolidating the two most powerful positions under one leader.

ABOUT TO LAM

• Dual Mandate:Communist Party General Secretary + State President
• Foreign Policy:“Bamboo Diplomacy” – flexible foreign policy balancing major powers

ABOUT VIETNAM

• Political System:One-party system led by Communist Party of Vietnam
• Highest Legislative Body:National Assembly

ENVIRONMENT

7.  INDIAN SOFTSELL TURTLE RESCUE HIGHLIGHTS ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Current Context: Police rescued 16 Indian Softshell turtles in Greater Noida during a routine check, drawing attention to illegal wildlife trade.

ABOUT INDIAN SOFTSHELL TURTLE

• Scientific Name:Nilssonia gangetica (also known as Ganges Softshell turtle)
• Characteristics:
  • Among the largest freshwater turtle species
  • Round to oval-shaped, green carapace with yellow border
  • Long neck and distinctive tube-like snout for breathing while submerged
  • Soft, compressed shell enables swift movement
• Habitat:Deep rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds with sandy/muddy bottoms
• Distribution:Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
• Indian River Basins:Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, Narmada, Mahanadi
• Breeding Season:February to April
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List:Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule I (highest protection)

HIMACHAL NEWS

8. HIMACHAL PRADESH PANCHAYAT ELECTION RESERVATION ROSTER

Current Context: The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Department has issued a letter to all Deputy Commissioners to prepare and release the reservation roster for 3,757 panchayats by April 7

ABOUT THE PANCHAYAT RESERVATION ROSTER

• Total Panchayats in Himachal Pradesh:3,773 (after formation of 196 new panchayats)
• Panchayats for which roster will be released:3,757
• Background:
  • State government formed 196 new panchayats, increasing total panchayats to 3,773
  • People challenged the reorganisation and delimitation of 16 out of 196 new panchayats in the Himachal Pradesh High Court
  • High Court declared the reorganisation and delimitation of these 16 panchayats illegal for not following prescribed procedure
• Impact:38 affected and new panchayats will have roster impact, 16 panchayats revert to old status

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