Prelims Current Affairs includes International Day Of Democracy, Engineers’ Day 2026, India To Host World Circular Economy Forum 2026, South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (Sawen), Badri Cattle, Us Open 2026 Winners & Notonmap Selected For Amadeus Travel4impact Programme

IMPORTANT DAYS

1.  INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

Current Context: International Day of Democracy is observed on 15 September to review the state of democracy worldwide.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

• Established by: United Nations General Assembly
• Resolution: UNGA Resolution 62/7, adopted on 8 November 2007
• First observed: 15 September 2008
• Focus 2026:Deliberative democracy – bringing diverse voices into decision-making

IMPORTANT DAYS 

2. ENGINEERS’ DAY 2026

Current Context: Engineers’ Day is celebrated on 15 September to honour Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

ABOUT ENGINEERS’ DAY

• Commemorates:Birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya (born 15 September 1861)
• Observed Since:1968
• Field: Civil Engineering, irrigation, water management and infrastructure development
• National Engineers’ Day recognises the contribution of engineers to infrastructure, technological development, economic growth and nation-building.
• India observes Engineers’ Day on 15 September, while World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is observed on 4 March, under UNESCO.
• Sir M. Visvesvaraya:

Key Contributions:

• Patented automatic water-control floodgates (first at Khadakvasla Reservoir, 1903)
• Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam across Cauvery River
• Technical advice for flood protection in Hyderabad (after 1908 Musi floods)
• Promoted Mysore Iron and Steel Works, Mysore Soap Factory
• Authored: “Reconstructing India” and “Planned Economy for India”

ECONOMY

3. INDIA TO HOST WORLD CIRCULAR ECONOMY FORUM 2026

Current Context: WCEF 2026 to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 15-18 September 2026 – first in South Asia.

ABOUT WORLD CIRCULAR ECONOMY FORUM

• WCEF is a global forum that brings together governments, businesses, international organisations, researchers and civil society to discuss and showcase practical solutions for the transition towards a circular economy.
• The forum was launched in 2017 by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.
• It is held annually in different parts of the world, helping connect global circular-economy discussions with regional and national action.
• WCEF 2026 is the 10th edition of the forum and the first edition in South Asia
• Theme:“Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity”

Organisers:

• CPCB, Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund), Government of Finland
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Pollution Control Board

ENVIRONMENT 

4.  SOUTH ASIA WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT NETWORK (SAWEN)

Current Context: Member countries of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) adopted the Kathmandu Declaration by consensus on 11 September 2026 at SAWEN’s First General Assembly in Kathmandu, Nepal, to strengthen regional cooperation against illegal wildlife trade and related transnational organised crime.

ABOUT SAWEN

• It is a regional intergovernmental wildlife law-enforcement support body of South Asian countries.
• SAWEN was formally launched on 29-30 January 2011 at Paro, Bhutan, during the Second Meeting of the South Asia Experts Group on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
• Its Secretariat was formally established in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 20 April 2011.
• Members: 8 South Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

KATHMANDU DECLARATION 2026

• The Kathmandu Declaration represents a renewed regional commitment to tackling wildlife crime.

Objectives:

• Harmonization and standardization of laws and policies
• Document poaching and illegal wildlife trade trends
• Strengthen institutional responses
• Encourage National Action Plans

AGRICULTURE

5. BADRI CATTLE

Current Context: Scientists produced a calf of ‘Badri’ cattle breed using Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology.

ABOUT BADRI CATTLE

• OPU-IVF (Ovum Pick-Up–In Vitro Fertilization) is an assisted reproductive technology in which ova are collected from a genetically superior female, fertilized with sperm in the laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred to a surrogate/recipient female to produce genetically superior offspring.
• Badri cattle is an indigenous cattle breed of Uttarakhand, particularly adapted to the hilly and mountainous conditions of the state.
• It is recognised as an important indigenous livestock genetic resource of Uttarakhand and is considered the state animal of Uttarakhand.
• The breed was officially registered as a distinct indigenous cattle breed by the ICAR–National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
• Badri cattle are generally small-sized, with long legs, making them well adapted to movement across mountainous terrain.
• They show different body colours, including black, brown, red, white and grey.

Institutions Involved:

• ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal
• G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

SPORTS

6. US OPEN 2026 WINNERS

Current Context: The US Open 2026 concluded with Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina winning the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively

MEN’S SINGLES:

• Winner:Alexander Zverev (Germany)
• Runner-up:Ben Shelton (USA)
• Zverev’s 2nd Grand Slam of 2026 (after French Open)

WOMEN’S SINGLES:

• Winner:Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
• Runner-up:Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
• Rybakina’s maiden US Open title, became World No. 1

DOUBLES WINNERS:

HIMACHAL NEWS

7. NOTONMAP SELECTED FOR AMADEUS TRAVEL4IMPACT PROGRAMME

Current Context: Chamba-based rural tourism organisation NotOnMap selected for the sixth cohort of Amadeus’s global Travel4Impact programme.

ABOUT NOTONMAP

• NotOnMap is a social-impact rural tourism organisation working to promote community-based tourism and sustainable livelihoods in rural and Himalayan communities.
• It connects travellers with local communities, homestays, traditional culture, food, crafts and rural experiences, helping tourism income reach local residents.
• Its Mystic Village in Khajjiar, Chamba is an example of community-based tourism, where villagers participate in hosting visitors and developing alternative livelihoods.

ABOUT TRAVEL4IMPACT

• Travel4Impact is an Amadeus initiative supporting small travel and tourism businesses that generate positive social and environmental impact.
• The programme provides selected entrepreneurs with mentoring, expert support, business insights, networking and practical knowledge to strengthen their organisations and scale their impact. Amadeus reported that its volunteers supported 23 travel-impact entrepreneurs through the programme in 2025.

About NotOnMap:

• CEO:Kumar Anubhav
• Works with:Rural communities, homestay owners, women’s SHGs, artisans, youth
• Initiative:‘Book My Experience’ – enables local artists, cultural practitioners to offer skills and experiences directly to visitors

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