Prelims Current Affairs includes Inter-Parliamentary Union (Ipu) Assembly, Desert National Park, Mandar Gets Gi Tag , Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026 , Diksha Dagar Wins Asian Games Women’s Golf Silver, Doha Receives 2030 Asian Games Baton & Bara Bhangal Gets Natural Farming Panchayat Status

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) ASSEMBLY

Current Context: The Indian Parliamentary Delegation, led by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, departed for Arusha, Tanzania, to participate in the 153rd IPU Assembly.

ABOUT INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

• Established: 1889.
• Nature: International organisation of national parliaments.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• The IPU was founded as the first multilateral political organisation and promotes dialogue and cooperation among parliaments.
• Membership: The IPU currently has 183 national Member Parliaments, along with 15 regional parliamentary bodies.
• Core objective: Strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and enabling parliaments to promote peace, democracy, human rights and sustainable development.

153rd IPU ASSEMBLY

• Venue: Arusha International Conference Centre, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.
• Theme: Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.
• The Assembly brings together parliamentarians from different countries for parliamentary diplomacy, dialogue, policy discussions and cooperation.

ENVIRONMENT

2. DESERT NATIONAL PARK

Current Context: In a major milestone for the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released two captive-bred male GIBs into the wild at Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

ABOUT DESERT NATIONAL PARK

• Location: Jaisalmer and Barmer districts, Rajasthan.
• Ecosystem: Thar Desert ecosystem.
• Area: Approximately 3,162 sq km.
• Notification: The area was notified as a Desert National Park Sanctuary in 1980.
• Main objective: Conservation of the unique biodiversity, ecological processes, cultural heritage and desert ecosystem of the Thar region.
• The park is particularly important for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, which is the flagship species of the Desert National Park landscape.

GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD (GIB)

• Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps.
• Common name: Great Indian Bustard, locally known as Godawan.
• Conservation status: Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• Habitat: Open grasslands, scrublands and semi-arid landscapes.
• Importance: The GIB is an important umbrella species for the Thar grassland ecosystem.
• It is also the State bird of Rajasthan.

ART & CULTURE

3. MANDAR GETS GI TAG

Current Context: The traditional musical instrument Mandar of Jharkhand has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

ABOUT MANDAR

• It is deeply rooted in the folk culture and tribal life of Jharkhand.
• GI tag granted by: Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai.
• It gives legal recognition to its distinctive geographical and cultural identity.

REPORTS / INDICES

4. SKYTRAX WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS 2026

Current Context: Singapore Airlines won the title of the world’s best airline at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

KEY FINDINGS

• Air India: Ranked 57th globally (up from 84th) and 1st in India and South Asia.
• IndiGo: Ranked 61st globally (down from 39th) and 2nd in the regional ranking, won Best Low-Cost Airline in India and South Asia.
• Passengers rated airlines on cabin service, airport service, seat comfort, cleanliness, meals, entertainment, Wi-Fi and value for money.

TOP 10 AIRLINES IN THE WORLD FOR 2026

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Turkish Airlines
6. Emirates
7. Air France
8. Hainan Airlines
9. Japan Airlines
10. Korean Air

ABOUT SKYTRAX WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS

• The World Airline Awards are organised by Skytrax, an international air-transport rating organisation based in London.
• The awards were launched in 1999 with Skytrax’s global annual airline customer-satisfaction survey.
• They are popularly known as the “Oscars of the aviation industry” because of their global recognition.

SPORTS

5. DIKSHA DAGAR WINS ASIAN GAMES WOMEN’S GOLF SILVER

Current Context: Diksha Dagar of Jhajjar won a silver medal in the women’s team golf event at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 with teammates Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• India finished second with a team total of 14-under 546 at the Kasugai Country Club East Course in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
• China won the gold medal with 22-under 538.
• Pranavi Urs won the individual gold medal and became the first Indian woman to achieve this feat in golf.
• Aditi Ashok finished 14th individually with a total of two-over 282.
• Diksha Dagar finished tied 18th individually with a score of five-over 285.
• This was India’s first-ever medal in the women’s team golf event at the Asian Games.

SPORTS

6. DOHA RECEIVES 2030 ASIAN GAMES BATON

Current Context: Doha, Qatar, formally received the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Flag at the closing ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan

DOHA 2030 ASIAN GAMES

• Edition: 21st Asian Games.
• Year:
• Doha will host the Asian Games for the second time, having previously hosted the 15th Asian Games in 2006.
• The official Doha 2030 slogan is “The Games We Live For.”

HIMACHAL NEWS

7. BARA BHANGAL GETS NATURAL FARMING PANCHAYAT STATUS

Current Context: Bara Bhangal, one of Himachal Pradesh’s remotest settlements in Kangra district, has been formally declared a “Natural Farming Gram Panchayat” through a state government notification.

ABOUT BARA BHANGAL

• Location: Baijnath Development Block, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Bara Bhangal is a highly remote settlement located in the Dhauladhar mountain region and remains isolated for several months during winter because of difficult terrain and heavy snowfall.
• Accessible only through strenuous multi-day treks across high mountain passes, including the 4,800-metre-high Thamsar Jot, or via difficult trails from Chamba district.
• The area is traditionally dependent on agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods.
• Important local crops include Rajmah, barley, potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage and coarse cereals.

WHAT DOES NATURAL FARMING PANCHAYAT STATUS MEAN?

• The notification prohibits the import, sale, distribution and use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides for agricultural and horticultural crops in the area.
• Restrictions also extend to certain animal and poultry feed.
• Government departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Rural Development have been directed to provide necessary support and facilities.
• The initiative aims to promote farming based on local resources and natural inputs, reducing dependence on synthetic chemical inputs.

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