Prelims Current Affairs includes World Population Day 2026, India, Australia And Canada Launch Aciti Partnership, Gsi Discovers Thorium Deposits In Gundlupet, Guwahati Declaration Adopted By Brics Nations, Delhi Ranks 120th In Global Liveability Index 2026, Hummus Trail, Samriddh Gram Digital Inclusion Wins Wsis Prize & Rbi Approves Mahesh Pai As South Indian Bank Md & Ceo

IMPORTANT DAYS 

1. WORLD POPULATION DAY 2026

Current Context: World Population Day is observed on 11 July to raise awareness about population growth, reproductive health, and sustainable development.

ABOUT WORLD POPULATION DAY

• Established by: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Governing Council in 1989.
• First Observed: 1990.
• Inspired by: Five Billion Day (11 July 1987), when the world’s population was estimated to have reached 5 billion.
• World Population Day 2026 Theme: “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future.”
• Global Population Statistics (2026): Current Population:~8.3 billion, Annual Growth Rate:83%
• Most Populous Country:India (>1.47 billion)
• Most Populous Continent:Asia (~4.85 billion)
• Projection:9 billion by 2037

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. INDIA, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA LAUNCH ACITI PARTNERSHIP

Current Context: India, Australia and Canada launched ACITI trilateral partnership.

ABOUT ACITI PARTNERSHIP

• ACITI stands for Australia-Canada-India Track 1.5 Initiative.
• It is a Track 1.5 dialogue mechanism, involving both government representatives (in unofficial capacities) and non-government stakeholders such as think tanks, academia, industry, and strategic experts.
• The initiative aims to institutionalize trilateral cooperation among three like-minded democracies in the Indo-Pacific.
• It serves as a platform for policy discussions on emerging geopolitical, economic, and technological challenges.
• Areas of Cooperation: Artificial Intelligence, Green energy technologies, Critical minerals (secure and diversified supply chains), Net-zero emissions-related cooperation and Resilient supply chains.
• Complementary Strengths:
• Canada:AI research and clean technology
• India:Scale and digital infrastructure
• Australia:Resource base and commercialisation capacity

NATIONAL NEWS

3. GSI DISCOVERS THORIUM DEPOSITS IN GUNDLUPET

Current Context: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has discovered significant thorium-bearing mineral deposits in Kootanur village, Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.

About Thorium:

• Thorium (Th) is a naturally occurring radioactive metal (actinide series) with atomic number 90.
• It is about three to four times more abundant than uranium in the Earth’s crust.
• Thorium itself is not fissile, but it is a fertile nuclear material that can be converted into Uranium-233 (U-233), a fissile fuel used in nuclear reactors.
• It commonly occurs in minerals such as: Monazite, Thorite, Thorianite.

Thorium Resources in India:

• India has some of the largest thorium resources in the world
• Mainly associated with monazite-bearing sands
• Major concentrations: Coastal belts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha

About GSI:

• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is India’s premier geoscientific organization responsible for geological mapping, mineral exploration, and geoscientific research.
• It functions under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• It is the second-oldest geological survey organization in the world, after the British Geological Survey (1835).

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. GUWAHATI DECLARATION ADOPTED BY BRICS NATIONS

Current Context: BRICS nations adopted Guwahati Declaration at BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting in Guwahati, Assam.

ABOUT GUWAHATI DECLARATION

• The Guwahati Declaration is a joint declaration adopted by BRICS member countries to enhance collaboration in combating global drug trafficking and related organized crime.
• The declaration responds to the growing menace of synthetic drugs, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and the misuse of digital technologies by drug trafficking networks.
• Under:India’s 2026 18^th BRICS chairship.
• Theme:“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”

About BRICS:

• Intergovernmental organizationof major emerging economies
• Coined by:Jim O’Neill (Goldman Sachs, 2001)
• Original Members:Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC). Established: 2009 (first BRIC Summit)
• South Africa joined:2010 (formed BRICS)
• Expanded (2024):Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE
• Indonesia joined:2025
• Total Members:11
• Partner Countries (2025):Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

REPORTS & INDICES

5. DELHI RANKS 120TH IN GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX 2026

Current Context: New Delhi ranked 120th out of 173 cities in Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2026.

ABOUT GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX

• The Global Liveability Index is an annual ranking published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a research and analysis division of The Economist Group.
• It assesses the quality of life in cities across the world.
• The 2026 edition evaluated 173 cities using 30 qualitative and quantitative indicators grouped under five categories.
• New Delhi ranked 120th out of 173 cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, with an overall score of 1.
• Among Indian cities, Delhi ranked highest, followed by Mumbai (121st), Chennai (123rd), and Bengaluru (127th).

GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX 2026: TOP CITIES

1. Copenhagen (Denmark)
2. Vienna (Austria)
3. Melbourne (Australia)
4. Sydney (Australia)
5. Zurich (Switzerland)

GEOGRAPHY

6. HUMMUS TRAIL

Current Context: Hind Rajab Foundation filed war crimes complaint against Israeli soldier traced in India’s ‘Hummus Trail’ hotspots.

ABOUT HUMMUS TRAIL

• The Hummus Trail is an informal travel circuit in India that is especially popular among young Israeli tourists, particularly after completing their compulsory military service.
• It is named after hummus, a popular Middle Eastern dish, reflecting the strong Israeli cultural presence in these destinations.
• The journey is part of the Israeli tradition known as Tiul Gadol (The Big Trip), during which young Israelis travel abroad for 6-12 months before pursuing higher education or employment.
• Major destinations on the Hummus Trail: Ladakh, Kasol (“Mini Israel”), Tosh, Kalga, Pulga, Kullu, Old Manali, Dharamkot and Bhagsu (Himachal Pradesh), Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), Mathura and Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), Pushkar (Rajasthan), Goa, Hampi (Karnataka), Kerala, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

7. SAMRIDDH GRAM DIGITAL INCLUSION WINS WSIS PRIZE

Current Context: Samriddh Gram Integrated Phygital Services Project won Global Winner title in WSIS Prizes 2026.

ABOUT SAMRIDDH GRAM INITIATIVE

• A flagship initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications.
• Built on BharatNet, the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity project.
• Establishes Samriddhi Kendras as one-stop “phygital” (physical + digital) service centres in villages.
• Aims to transform broadband connectivity into a platform for delivering essential public and private services.
• About WSIS Prizes: Administered by: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Category: Enabling Environment

About ITU:

• Established: 1865
• Became UN specialised agency: 1947
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

BANKING & ECONOMY 

8. RBI APPROVES MAHESH PAI AS SOUTH INDIAN BANK MD & CEO

Current Context: RBI approved appointment of Mahesh Pai as MD & CEO of South Indian Bank for three-year term.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Position:MD & CEO, South Indian Bank
• Term:3 years (from 1 October 2026)

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