Prelims Current Affairs includes World’s First Artificial Energy Island In Belgium, India Hosts Global Dryland Congress 2026, 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, Trishna Mission, Dronathon 2026 To Test Iaf Drone Warfare, India Finishes Fourth At Pickleball World Cup With 41 Medals, Kishor Makwana To Receive Dr Apj Abdul Kalam Jan Seva Puraskar 2026 & Asian-Pacific Postal Union (Appu)

INTERNATIONAL

1. WORLD’S FIRST ARTIFICIAL ENERGY ISLAND IN BELGIUM

Current Context: Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Island is an artificial energy island under construction in the North Sea.

ABOUT PRINCESS ELISABETH ISLAND

• Location: North Sea, approximately 45 km off the Belgian coast, within Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone.

Country: Belgium

• Project developer/operator: Elia, Belgium’s electricity transmission system operator.
• Nature: A man-made/artificial island built specifically as an offshore energy hub, rather than for habitation.
• The island will function like an offshore electricity switchboard, collecting electricity from offshore wind farms and directing it towards the mainland grid and international connections.

AGRICULTURE

2. INDIA HOSTS GLOBAL DRYLAND CONGRESS 2026

Current Context: 3-day Global Dryland Congress 2026 began on 10 September 2026 at National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi.

ABOUT GLOBAL DRYLAND CONGRESS 2026

• Major organisers: ICRISAT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• The Congress focuses on dryland agriculture, which is farming carried out in regions where crop production depends heavily on limited and variable rainfall.
• It brings together researchers, policymakers, farmers, development organisations and agricultural experts to discuss solutions for climate-vulnerable dryland regions.

WHAT ARE DRYLANDS?

• Drylands are regions characterised by limited and highly variable water availability.
• Agriculture in these regions is particularly vulnerable to drought, erratic rainfall, soil degradation and water scarcity.
• Dryland farming is especially important for food security and rural livelihoods across parts of Asia and Africa.
• The current challenges are increasingly compounded by climate change, including changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures.
• Theme:“Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South-South Cooperation”
• About ICAR: Indian Council of Agricultural Research
• Established: 16 July 1929. Autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Establishment: It was established as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, following the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.
• About ICRISAT: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
• Established: 1972
• Established through: A Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of India and CGIAR on 28 March 1972.
• Nature: International organisation specialising in research for dryland agriculture and agri-food systems.
• Headquarters: Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. 55TH PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM LEADERS’ MEETING

Current Context: India reaffirmed commitment to Pacific Island countries at 55th PIF Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, Palau.

ABOUT PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is the premier political and economic regional organisation of the Pacific.

• It was established in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum.
• It was renamed the Pacific Islands Forum in 2000.
• Secretariat: Suva, Fiji.
• It brings together Pacific island countries along with Australia and New Zealand.
• Its major areas of cooperation include climate change, sustainable development, economic growth, ocean governance, regional security and resilience.

55TH PIF LEADERS’ MEETING 2026

• Theme: “Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.”
• The meeting brought Pacific leaders together to discuss the region’s major economic, environmental, climate and security challenges.
• The summit took place against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical competition in the Pacific, particularly involving China, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.

INDIA’S PARTICIPATION

• India participated as a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum.
• India reaffirmed its commitment to working with Pacific Island countries according to their development priorities and requirements.

SPACE

4. TRISHNA MISSION

Current Context: PSLV scheduled to launch Indo-French TRISHNA mission next year.

ABOUT TRISHNA MISSION

• The mission will observe Earth’s surface primarily in the thermal infrared, along with visible and short-wave infrared observations.
• The primary objective is to obtain high-resolution measurements of Earth’s surface temperature and thermal properties.
• It will help monitor water stress in vegetation and agricultural areas.
• Full Form:Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment
• Collaboration:ISRO and CNES (French Space Agency)

PAYLOADS

• Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload: Provided by CNES, it will provide high-resolution thermal-infrared observations using a four-channel long-wave infrared imaging sensor.
• Visible–Short Wave Infra-Red (VSWIR) payload: Provided by ISRO, it will complement the thermal observations with visible and short-wave infrared measurements.
• Combining these observations will allow scientists to obtain a more comprehensive picture of land-surface temperature, vegetation condition and water availability.
• Orbit:Sun-synchronous at 761 km altitude
• Mission Life:5 years

DEFENCE 

5. DRONATHON 2026 TO TEST IAF DRONE WARFARE

Current Context: IAF to organise Dronathon-2026 at Pokhran range, Jaisalmer, from 14-16 September 2026.

ABOUT DRONATHON 2026

• Focus:Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS)

Key Features:

• Static displays and live tactical demonstrations
• Assessment of drone systems under operational conditions
• Focus on swarm drone technologies
• Participation from domestic manufacturers, defence startups, innovators

SPORTS

6. INDIA FINISHES FOURTH AT PICKLEBALL WORLD CUP WITH 41 MEDALS

Current Context: India finished 4th among 82 nations at the Pickleball World Cup 2026 held in Da Nang, Vietnam, winning a total of 41 medals, including 7 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze. It was India’s best-ever performance at the tournament.

Key Highlights:

• 48 Indian players participated
• Categories: Kids, Juniors, Open, Seniors, Masters
• Improved from 7th position in previous World Cup

Team Performances:

• Juniors: 4th place (lost to Vietnam in quarters)

AWARDS & HONOURS

7. KISHOR MAKWANA TO RECEIVE DR APJ ABDUL KALAM JAN SEVA PURASKAR 2026

Current Context: NCSC Chairman Kishor Makwana to receive Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Jan Seva Puraskar 2026.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Award:Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Jan Seva Puraskar 2026
• Recipient:Kishor Makwana (NCSC Chairman)
• Event:16th Sansad Ratna Awards 2026
• Venue:Delhi
• Date:9 September 2026
• About NCSC:
• Full Form:National Commission for Scheduled Castes

APPOINTMENTS

8. ASIAN-PACIFIC POSTAL UNION (APPU)

Current Context: Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh re-elected as Secretary-General of APPU for second term (2027-2030).

ABOUT APPU

• Members:32 countries across Asia-Pacific
• Status:Restricted Union under Article 8 of Universal Postal Union (UPU)
• Headquarters:Bangkok, Thailand (relocated from Manila in 2002)

History:

• Originated: 1 April 1962 (as Asian-Oceanic Postal Union – AOPU)
• Modern form: Asian-Pacific Postal Convention signed in Yogyakarta (27 March 1981)
• Entered into force: 1 July 1982

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