Prelims Current Affairs includes National Vaccination Day, Sujal Gaon Id, Amrut Mitra Mahotsav 2026, José Antonio Kast Becomes President of Chile, Kharg Island, Joha Rice & Purple Fest

Important Day

1. NATIONAL VACCINATION DAY

Observed every year on 16 March in India

• Aim : to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination in preventing infectious diseases.
• Theme : “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”.
• Also known as National Immunization Day.
• Commemorates the first administration of the Oral Polio Vaccine in India in 1995.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

2. SUJAL GAON ID

Current Context: The Union Minister of Jal Shakti launched the Sujal Gaon ID, a unique digital identifier for every rural piped water supply scheme in India.

ABOUT SUJAL GAON ID

• A unique digital identification system for rural water supply schemes.
• Enables digital mapping of rural water infrastructure across the country.

KEY FEATURES

• 64 lakh Sujal Gaon IDs created across 31 States and Union Territories.
• Linked with 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.
• Integrates scheme infrastructure ID and service area ID.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Enables real-time monitoring and transparency.
• Supports efficient management of rural water resources.
• Promotes data-driven decision making in water governance.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. AMRUT MITRA MAHOTSAV 2026

Current Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organised the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

ABOUT AMRUT MITRAS

• Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) working under AMRUT 2.0 to improve urban water services.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 1,000 women participants and 300 officials from 30 States and Union Territories attended the event.

ROLE OF AMRUT MITRAS

• Water quality testing at local levels
• Billing and collection for water supply services
• Community awareness and mobilisation
• Operation and maintenance of water infrastructure
• Faecal Sludge Management (FSM)

SIGNIFICANCE

• Encourages women participation in urban service delivery.
• Improves transparency and citizen engagement in water management.

APPOINTMENT

4. JOSÉ ANTONIO KAST BECOMES PRESIDENT OF CHILE

Current Context: José Antonio Kast has taken office as the new President of Chile.

ABOUT CHILE

• Location: A long and narrow country located on the western side of South America, between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
• Capital: Santiago
• Official Language: Spanish
• Area: About 756,096 sq. km

GEOGRAPHY

• Borders:
• Peru and Bolivia in the north
• Argentina in the east
• Pacific Ocean in the west
• It is one of the southernmost countries in the world and lies close to Antarctica.
• Chile’s long and narrow shape creates major geographical contrasts, including:
• Arid Atacama Desert in the north
• Temperate Mediterranean climate in central Chile
• Cold and wet regions in southern Chile

SPECIAL TERRITORY

• Easter Island (Rapa Nui): A remote island in the Pacific Ocean administered by Chile, famous for its Moai stone statues.

PLACE IN NEWS

5. KHARG ISLAND

Current Context: Kharg Island is in the news after United States airstrikes on Iranian military targets there amid rising tensions with Iran.

ABOUT KHARG ISLAND

• Located in the northern Persian Gulf, about 30 km from the Iranian mainland.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

• A rocky limestone coral island.
• One of the few islands in the Persian Gulf with freshwater sources.
• Highest point: Mount Didehban (87 metres).

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

• Developed as a major oil export terminal after discovery of offshore oil fields in the 1960s.
• Handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
• Storage capacity: about 28 million barrels.
• Loading capacity: about 7 million barrels per day.

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

• Located near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important global oil transit routes.

MISCELLANEOUS

6. JOHA RICE

Current Context: India recently exported 25 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Joha Rice from Assam to the United Kingdom and Italy.

ABOUT JOHA RICE

• An indigenous aromatic rice variety of Assam.
• Known for its distinct fragrance, fine grain texture and rich taste.
• Cultivated during the Sali (Kharif) season.

MAJOR VARIETIES

• Kola Joha
• Keteki Joha
• Bokul Joha
• Kunkuni Joha

NUTRITIONAL FEATURES

• Rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and phenolic compounds.
• Contains essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3).

GI TAG

• Received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017.

MISCELLANEOUS

7. PURPLE FEST

Current Context: Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted Purple Fest to celebrate the talent and achievements of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities).

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Held at Amrit Udyan in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• More than 8,000 participants attended the event.

OBJECTIVE

• Promote inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
• Provide a platform to showcase talent, creativity and achievements of Divyangjan.

Download Pdf | Study Material | Downloads | Daily Quiz  | FREE Youtube Videos