Prelims Current Affairs includes Meningococcal Infection, Most Favoured Nation (Mfn) Status, Pangong Lake, Micron Semiconductor Facility In Gujarat, Exercise Vayu Shakti-26, Durand Line, Project Cheetah, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve & Maiden Ranji Trophy

HEALTH

1. MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION

Current Context: The Meghalaya Government issued a public health advisory after reports of meningococcal infection cases.

ABOUT MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION

• Cause: Bacterium Neisseria meningitidis
• Nature: Severe and rapidly progressing infectious disease
• Main Forms: Meningitis (brain lining infection) and meningococcemia (blood infection)

TRANSMISSION

• Spread through respiratory droplets or throat secretions
• Usually requires close or prolonged contact
• SYMPTOMS : High fever, Severe headache, Stiff neck, Rash and other neurological symptoms

ECONOMY

2. MOST FAVOURED NATION (MFN) STATUS

Current Context: India and the European Union agreed to grant each other Most Favoured Nation status in trade in services for a period of five years.

ABOUT MOST FAVOURED NATION

• Principle: A fundamental rule of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Meaning: If a country gives favourable trade benefits (like lower tariffs or better market access) to one WTO member, it must provide the same benefits to all other WTO members

EXCEPTIONS

• Regional Trade Agreements and Free Trade Agreements
• Special treatment for developing countries

SIGNIFICANCE

• Ensures non-discrimination in international trade
• Promotes fair and equal trading opportunities among WTO members

ENVIRONMENT

3.  PANGONG LAKE

Current Context: Ladakh hosted a 21-kilometre frozen lake half marathon at Pangong Lake, which entered the Guinness World Records as the world’s highest frozen lake half marathon.

ABOUT PANGONG LAKE

• Location: Eastern Ladakh extending into Tibet (China)
• Altitude: About 4,350 metres above sea level
• Type: Endorheic (landlocked) lake

KEY FEATURES

• One of the highest brackish water lakes in the world.
• Length about 134 kilometres and width about 5 kilometres
• About one-third lies in India and two-thirds in China
• The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Water changes colour from blue to green and red.
• The lake freezes completely during winter.

BIODIVERSITY

• Breeding ground for migratory birds.
• Species include bar-headed geese, Brahminy ducks and black-necked cranes.

SCIENCE

4.  MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR FACILITY IN GUJARAT

Current Context: Micron Technology started operations at its semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat, featuring the world’s largest semiconductor clean room.

ABOUT THE FACILITY

• Location: Sanand, Gujarat
• Type: Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) facility
• Company: Micron Technology
• Investment: About 2.7 billion US dollars

KEY FEATURES

• Houses a 500,000 square feet semiconductor clean room, the largest of its kind globally
• Produces advanced memory components including DRAM modules
• First shipment delivered to Dell Technologies

‘DEFENCE

5. EXERCISE VAYU SHAKTI-26

Current Context: The Indian Air Force conducted Exercise Vayu Shakti-26 at the Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan.

ABOUT EXERCISE VAYU SHAKTI

• Conducted By: Indian Air Force
• Location: Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
• Purpose: Demonstrate operational readiness and combat capability

KEY FEATURES

• Over 130 aircraft participated in day and night operations
• Major aircraft included Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar
• Transport aircraft like C-130J, C-295 and C-17 also participated

INTERNATIONAL

6. DURAND LINE

Current Context: Pakistan launched a military operation called “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq” along the Durand Line, increasing tensions with Afghanistan.

ABOUT DURAND LINE

• Type: International boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan
• Length: About 2,600 km
• Established: 1893

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Proposed during British rule to separate British India and Afghanistan
• Named after Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat
• The agreement was signed with Afghan ruler Abdur Rahman Khan

KEY ISSUE

• Afghanistan does not officially recognise the Durand Line as a legitimate international border.

ENVIRONMENT

7. PROJECT CHEETAH

Current Context: Eight cheetahs from Botswana will be introduced in Kuno National Park under India’s cheetah reintroduction programme, Project Cheetah.

ABOUT PROJECT CHEETAH

• Launch Year: 2022
• Objective: Reintroduce cheetahs in India by translocating African cheetahs
• Significance: World’s first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore

IMPLEMENTATION

• Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
• Technical Support: Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

CHEETAH TRANSLOCATION

• 2022: First batch brought from Namibia
• 2023: Second batch brought from South Africa
• 2026: Third batch proposed from Botswana
• Important Fact: The Asiatic cheetah, once found in India, was declared extinct in 1952.

ENVIRONMENT

8.  BANDHAVGARH TIGER RESERVE

Current Context: The Madhya Pradesh government reported eight tiger deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve due to electrocution from illegal live wires.

ABOUT BANDHAVGARH TIGER RESERVE

• Location: Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh in the Vindhya hills
• Named After: Historic Bandhavgarh Fort, linked to the Ramayana tradition

CONSERVATION STATUS

• Declared a National Park
• Later designated as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger

ECOSYSTEM

• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests, sal forests, grasslands
• Wildlife: High tiger density, leopards, gaur, deer species and diverse birdlife

SPORTS

9. MAIDEN RANJI TROPHY

Current Context: Jammu & Kashmir created history by winning their first Ranji Trophy title, defeating Karnataka in the final at KSCA Rajnagar Stadium.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Tournament: Ranji Trophy (India’s premier domestic cricket championship)
• Opponent in Final: Karnataka (eight-time champion)
• Result: Jammu & Kashmir secured their first-ever title

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Entered the final day with a 477-run lead
• Added 156 runs in 56 overs without losing a wicket
• Dominated the match from the beginning and sealed the championship convincingly.

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