Prelims Current Affairs includes World Bicycle Day 2026, India Signs Brahmos Missile Deal With Vietnam, Indonesia Agreement Nears Completion, Kill Switch Mechanism Explored By Rbi, Design Linked Incentive (Dli) Scheme, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (Abdm) Crosses 90 Crore Abha , Satwik-Chirag Win Singapore Open 2026 Men’s Doubles Title, President Approves Appointment Of Five New Supreme Court Judges & Bambi Bucket: Iaf Fights Kasauli Forest Fire

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD BICYCLE DAY 2026

Current Context: World Bicycle Day 2026 is being celebrated on 3 June 2026, highlighting the importance of bicycles as a simple, affordable, healthy, and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

ABOUT THE DAY

• Celebrated to promote the use of bicycles for sustainable transportation, health, and social inclusion.
• Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 through Resolution A/RES/72/272.
• First observed on 3 June 2018.
• Theme 2026: “Cycling for a Greener Future”

DEFENCE

2. INDIA SIGNS BRAHMOS MISSILE DEAL WITH VIETNAM, INDONESIA AGREEMENT NEARS COMPLETION

Current Context: India has signed an agreement to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam, while negotiations for a similar deal with Indonesia are in the final stages. The announcement was made by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

ABOUT THE DEALS

• Vietnam: Deal already signed (official public announcement yet to be made)
• Indonesia: Negotiations entered final stage
• First foreign buyer: Philippines (agreement signed in 2022, contract value ~$375 million)

Significance for INDIA

• It strengthens India’s position as a major defence exporter.
• It enhances strategic partnerships with ASEAN countries.
• Supports India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific outreach.

About BRAHMOS MISSILE

• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia.
• Developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

3. KILL SWITCH MECHANISM EXPLORED BY RBI

Current Context: The Reserve Bank of India mentioned in its annual report that it is exploring the possibility of introducing a ‘Kill switch’ mechanism.

ABOUT KILL SWITCH

• A Kill Switch is an emergency mechanism that allows a user to immediately disable or freeze digital payment transactions from their account.
• It may be integrated into banking and payment applications as a one-click emergency button to stop ongoing or potential fraudulent transactions.
• How it works: If someone suspects a request for transfer of funds is fraud, they can activate the kill switch through the bank app on mobile phone to stop money transfers instantly

Key Features

• Instant freezing of all debit transactions.
• Extension of the “Switch On/Switch Off” facility to all digital payment modes.
• Coverage may include: UPI transactions, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Cards and other electronic payment channels.

ECONOMY

4. DESIGN LINKED INCENTIVE (DLI) SCHEME

Current Context: The Union Minister said that India’s design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme is showing good results.

ABOUT DLI SCHEME

• The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to strengthen India’s semiconductor design ecosystem.
• It was notified in December 2021 under the Semicon India Programme.
• Implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing as the nodal agency.
• To promote indigenous semiconductor and chip design capabilities.
• Support startups, MSMEs, and domestic companies engaged in chip design.
• Eligibility: Start-ups and MSMEs are eligible for financial incentives and design infrastructure support for semiconductor product design & deployment
• Product Design Linked Incentive: Reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible expenditure, capped at ₹15 crore per application
• Deployment Linked Incentive: 6% to 4% of net sales turnover for five years, capped at ₹30 crore per application
• Supports: Semiconductor design across full lifecycle – Integrated Circuits (ICs), chipsets, Systems-on-Chip (SoCs), systems, and IP cores

About Semicon India Programme

• Semicon India Programme is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to develop a comprehensive semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
• Approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2021 with a financial outlay of ₹76,000 crore.
• Implemented through the India Semiconductor Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

HEALTH

5. AYUSHMAN BHARAT DIGITAL MISSION (ABDM) CROSSES 90 CRORE ABHA

Current Context: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has crossed a landmark milestone by generating over 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) across the country.

ABOUT ABDM

• ABDM is India’s flagship digital health initiative implemented by the National Health Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Launched nationwide on 27 September 2021.
• Aims to create an integrated, interoperable digital health infrastructure across the country.

About ABHA

• ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a unique 14-digit digital health ID.
• Enables citizens to securely store, access, and share health records with their consent.
• Facilitates creation of lifelong digital health records across hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and health applications.

About Ayushman Bharat

• Ayushman Bharat is the flagship healthcare reform programme of the Government of India, launched in 2018 to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with the National Health Policy, 2017. It aims to provide comprehensive healthcare from primary to tertiary levels.
• Sports 

HEALTH

6. SATWIK-CHIRAG WIN SINGAPORE OPEN 2026 MEN’S DOUBLES TITLE

Current Context: India’s star badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Singapore Open 2026 men’s doubles title, ending a two-year BWF World Tour trophy drought.

ABOUT THE VICTORY

• Opponents: Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (Indonesia, world No. 3)
• Significance:
• First Indian doubles pair to win Singapore Open
• First BWF World Tour title since Thailand Open 2024 (ended two-year drought)
• Ninth BWF World Tour title overall
• India’s second BWF World Tour victory of 2026 (after Devika Sihag at Thailand Masters Super 300)

APPOINTMENTS 

7.  PRESIDENT APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF FIVE NEW SUPREME COURT JUDGES

Current Context: The Central Government has approved the appointment of five new Supreme Court judges, including four High Court Chief Justices and Senior Advocate V. Mohana.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS

• New sanctioned strength of Supreme Court: 38 judges (increased from 34 via ordinance)
• Working strength after appointments: 37 judges (one vacancy)
• Appointed under: Article 124(2) of the Constitution
• New judges:
• Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court)
• Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (Chief Justice, Bombay High Court)
• Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva (Chief Justice, Madhya Pradesh High Court)
• Justice Arun Palli (Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court)
• Senior Advocate V. Mohana
• Historic elevation: Senior Advocate V. Mohana becomes second woman directly elevated from bar to Supreme Court (first was Justice Indu Malhotra)

HIMACHAL NEWS

8. BAMBI BUCKET: IAF FIGHTS KASAULI FOREST FIRE

Current Context: The Indian Air Force used Mi-17 V5 helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets to combat the massive Kasauli forest fire in Himachal Pradesh.

ABOUT BAMBI BUCKET

• A Bambi Bucket is a collapsible aerial firefighting bucket suspended beneath a helicopter by a cable.
• How it works: Helicopter lowers bucket into water body → bucket fills within seconds → helicopter transports water to fire zone → water released precisely over hotspots
• Invented by: Don Arney (Canadian entrepreneur and industrial designer) in 1978, commercialized through SEI Industries in 1982
• The Kasauli operation marked the first-ever night Bambi Bucket mission by the IAF.
• Water sourced from Sukhna Lake

About KASAULI

• Kasauli is a picturesque hill station and cantonment town located in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Established by the British in 1842 as a military cantonment and hill station.
• Situated in the Shivalik Hills at an elevation of about 1,800-1,900 metres above sea level.
• Home to the historic Central Research Institute (CRI), established in 1904 for vaccine research and production
• Sunset Point and Gilbert Trail: Famous for scenic views.

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