Prelims Current Affairs includes No Smoking Day, Project Ganga (Uttar Pradesh), White Phosphorus, Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Malawi, Sheshnaag-150 Drone, Governor Of Himachal Pradesh & Himachal Pradesh Placed In Seismic Zone V

Important Day

1. NO SMOKING DAY

Observed every year on 11 March

• Aim : to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
• THEME (2026) :“A Smoke-Free Life Starts With A Smoke-Free Day.”
• First observed in the United Kingdom in 1984.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

2. PROJECT GANGA (UTTAR PRADESH)

Current Context: The Uttar Pradesh Government launched Project GANGA to expand high-speed internet connectivity in rural areas.

ABOUT PROJECT GANGA

• Objective: Provide broadband internet to over 20 lakh rural households within 2–3 years
• Implementation: Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Transformation Commission (STC) and One OTT Entertainment Limited (Hinduja Group subsidiary).

KEY FEATURES

• Expands digital connectivity in rural and semi-urban areas
• Enables access to online education, digital services and communication networks
• Helps bridge the digital divide between urban and rural regions.

SCIENCE

3. WHITE PHOSPHORUS

Current Context: Human Rights Watch accused Israel of unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas in southern Lebanon.

ABOUT WHITE PHOSPHORUS

• A white to yellow waxy solid with a garlic-like odour
• Highly reactive and flammable chemical element

PROPERTIES

• Ignites spontaneously in air at temperatures above 30°C
• Burns until fully oxidised or deprived of oxygen
• Produces dense smoke containing phosphoric acid compounds

APPLICATIONS

• Used by militaries to illuminate battlefields
• Creates smoke screens to conceal troop movement
• Used as an incendiary weapon in grenades and artillery shells
• Industrial use in the production of:
• Phosphoric acid
• Phosphates used in fertilisers and detergents.

IMPACT ON HUMANS

• Causes severe chemical burns on skin
• Smoke irritates eyes and respiratory system
• Burns can penetrate deep tissues and even damage bones

HEALTH

4.  HUMAN METAPNEUMOVIRUS (HMPV)

Current Context: Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections are spreading rapidly across the West Coast of the United States.

ABOUT HUMAN METAPNEUMOVIRUS

• A respiratory virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family
• Closely related to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Causes symptoms similar to the common cold.
• Spread through: Coughing and sneezing, Close personal contact, Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face

ORGANISATION

5. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU (NCB)

Current Context: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled a pan-India drug distribution network called “Team Kalki.”

ABOUT NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU

• Established: 14 November 1985
• Legal Basis: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
• Headquarters: New Delhi

FUNCTIONS

• Coordinate central and state drug law enforcement agencies
• Assist states in strengthening drug control measures
• Collect and analyse drug seizure data and intelligence
• Study drug trafficking trends and methods
• Maintain liaison with international organisations such as:
• INTERPOL
• International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
• United Nations drug control bodies

PLACE IN NEWS

6. MALAWI

Current Context: India dispatched 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Malawi to support the country’s food security efforts after a severe drought caused by the El Niño effect.

ABOUT MALAWI

• Location: Southeastern Africa
• Nature: Landlocked country
• Capital City: Lilongwe

BORDERING COUNTRIES

• Mozambique: East, South and Southwest
• Tanzania: North and Northeast
• Zambia: West
• Major Lakes :Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
• Major Rivers : Shire River, Rukuru River, Dwangwa River, Lilongwe River, Bua River
• Plateaus : Nyika Plateau, Shire Highlands
• Highest Peak : Sapitwa Peak in Mount Mulanje, near the Mozambique border.
• Waterfalls : Likhubula Falls, one of the notable waterfalls in the country.

DEFENCE

7. SHESHNAAG-150 DRONE

Current Context: India is developing Sheshnaag-150, a long-range swarm attack drone capable of carrying heavy payloads and striking targets at long distances.

ABOUT SHESHNAAG-150

• Type: Long-range collaborative swarm attack drone
• Developer: NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), Bengaluru
• Technology: AI-driven unmanned systems and swarm robotics.

KEY FEATURES

• Weight: Around 150 kg
• Payload Capacity: 25–40 kg warhead
• Range: Over 1,000 km
• Endurance: Can remain airborne for more than 5 hours.

ADVANCED CAPABILITIES

• AI-powered swarm technology: Multiple drones can operate together to overwhelm enemy air defence systems.
• Autonomous target identification: Capable of detecting and striking targets without direct human control.
• Real-time surveillance: Equipped with sensors for intelligence and reconnaissance.
• GPS-denied operation: Uses visual navigation systems, allowing it to operate even when satellite navigation signals are jammed.

HIMACHAL NEWS

8. GOVERNOR OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Current Context: Kavinder Gupta took oath as the 30th Governor of Himachal Pradesh at a ceremony held in Lok Bhawan.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Governor: Kavinder Gupta
• Oath Administered By: G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court

 HIMACHAL NEWS

9.  HIMACHAL PRADESH PLACED IN SEISMIC ZONE V

Current Context: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has placed the entire Himachal Pradesh in Seismic Zone V, the highest earthquake risk category in India.

ABOUT SEISMIC ZONE V

• Represents areas with very high earthquake risk
• Regions may experience earthquakes of magnitude up to around 8.0.

REASONS FOR HIGH SEISMIC RISK

• Himachal Pradesh lies in the Himalayan seismic belt
• Caused by the collision between the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate
• Continuous tectonic pressure stores large amounts of geological energy, increasing earthquake risk.

EARLIER CLASSIFICATION

• Previously, Himachal Pradesh was divided between Seismic Zones IV and V
• The latest revision places the entire state in Zone V.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVES

Him Kavach Mobile Application

• Launched by the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
• Provides guidelines for earthquake-resistant construction
• Helps homeowners, engineers and builders adopt safer building practices.

DISASTER AWARENESS DAY

• Observed on 4 April in Himachal Pradesh
• Marks the 121st anniversary of the 1905 Kangra earthquake, which killed nearly 20,000 people.

OBJECTIVE

• Increase public awareness about disaster preparedness
• Conduct safety drills in schools and institutions.
• Significance: The new seismic classification highlights the urgent need for earthquake-resistant infrastructure and disaster preparedness in the Himalayan region.

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