Prelims Current Affairs includes International Day Of Living Together In Peace, International Day Of Light, India Plans ₹40,000 Crore Subsea Gas Pipeline From Oman To Gujarat, Intellectual Property Catalyst Initiative, Pm Modi Inaugurates India’s First Pm Mitra Park At Warangal, India To Host Brics Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026, India Launches “Unified Bharat E-Charge” – Upi-Like Platform For Ev Charging, Leads 2025 Report Released In New Delhi, V.D. Satheesan Named Kerala Chief Minister , Himachal: At The Highest Polling Station In Comic, Only Female Staff Will Perform Election Duty

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIVING TOGETHER IN PEACE

Current Context: The International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed on 16 May to promote peace, dialogue, inclusion, and reconciliation worldwide.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIVING TOGETHER IN PEACE

• To promote peace, dialogue, inclusion, tolerance, solidarity, and reconciliation
• Theme 2026: “Building Trust through Dialogue, Inclusion and Reconciliation.”
• After World War II, the UN was established to prevent future wars and promote peace.
• 1997: UNGA proclaimed 2000 as the International Year for a Culture of Peace (Resolution 52/15).
• 1998: UN proclaimed 2001-2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.
• 1999: UNGA adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace (Resolution 53/243).

IMPORTANT DAYS

2. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT

Current Context: International Day of Light is celebrated on 16 May each year

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT

• Observed on the anniversary of the first successful laser operation (1960) by Theodore Maiman.
• Proclaimed by UNESCO.
• To highlight the importance of light and light-based technologies in science, education, communication, medicine, energy, and sustainable development.

INTERNATIONAL

3. INDIA PLANS ₹40,000 CRORE SUBSEA GAS PIPELINE FROM OMAN TO GUJARAT

Current Context: India is planning a ₹40,000 crore subsea gas pipeline project from Oman to Gujarat to strengthen energy security amid disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis in 2026. 

ABOUT THE PIPELINE PROJECT

• Around 88% of India’s crude oil imports and a major share of LNG imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Project gained importance after disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis (2026).
• Length: 2,000 km
• Route: Oman → Arabian Sea → Gujarat
• Timeline: 5-7 years after approval
• Expected Completion: Around 2033-2035
• Depth: Over 3,000 metres (deepwater route)
• Major Companies Involved:
  • GAIL: Lead operator and feasibility planner (controls over 70% of India’s gas transmission network)
  • Engineers India Limited: Technical feasibility
  • Indian Oil Corporation: End-user and participant

SCHEMES

4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CATALYST INITIATIVE

Current Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India launched IP Catalyst initiative along with its digital platform.

ABOUT IP CATALYST INITIATIVE

• To strengthen India’s intellectual property system by encouraging innovation, patent filing, and IP awareness among startups, MSMEs, researchers, and educational institutions.
• It creates a digital platform to support the entire journey of innovation from research and patents to commercialization and market use.
• Implemented by: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Pune and supported by MeitY
• Key Features:
  • Financial support for IP filing for MeitY organizations and grantee institutions
  • International patent filing support for startups and MSMEs
  • Unified digital access to technology commercialization and IP support services
  • Industry-academia-startup collaboration opportunities
  • Support for prototype-to-product development and market deployment

POLITY

5. PM MODI INAUGURATES INDIA’S FIRST PM MITRA PARK AT WARANGAL

Current Context: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first functional PM MITRA Park at Warangal, Telangana.

ABOUT PM MITRA Park Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel):

• Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Textiles to boost India’s textile sector.
• Aim: Create 7 mega textile parks with integrated facilities from “Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign”.
• 7 PM MITRA Parks approved: Virudhnagar (Tamil Nadu), Warangal (Telangana), Navasari (Gujarat), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Amravati (Maharashtra)
• Each park provides world-class infrastructure: plug-and-play units, common processing, logistics, worker housing, and skill centres.
• Developed under PPP mode through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
• Total outlay: ₹4,445 crore over 5 years.

INTERNATIONAL

6. INDIA TO HOST BRICS FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING 2026

Current Context: India will host the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under its chairship of the bloc, with participation from member and partner countries.

BRICS is a group of major emerging economies formed for cooperation in economic, political, and global issues.

Meeting Details:

• Chair: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
• Theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”
• Focus: Global and regional issues, BRICS@20, reforms in global governance and multilateral institutions

ABOUT BRICS

• Originally started as BRIC in 2006, South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.
• BRICS as a group does not have a permanent headquarters.
• However, the New Development Bank (NDB) established by BRICS has its headquarters in Shanghai, China.

ECONOMY

7. INDIA LAUNCHES “UNIFIED BHARAT E-CHARGE” – UPI-LIKE PLATFORM FOR EV CHARGING

Current Context: Union Heavy Industries Minister D. Kumaraswamy launched the Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC), a national platform described as the “UPI for EV charging” to enable seamless EV charging access across India.

ABOUT UNIFIED BHARAT E-CHARGE

• To create a unified, interoperable, and seamless EV charging ecosystem across India. Allows EV users to access multiple charging networks through a single platform/interface.
• Concept: “One nation, one app” – single interoperable system
• Features: Locate, book, and pay for EV charging across networks of BPCL, Indian Oil, HPCL, state agencies, and private operators
• Provides: Real-time data on charger availability, ownership, location, and power output
• Developed by: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
• Supported by: Government of India and NPCI

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

• Established in 1964.
• India’s largest engineering and manufacturing Public Sector Company.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

• Established in 2008.
• Umbrella organization for retail payment systems in India.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Operates under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).

REPORTS

8. LEADS 2025 REPORT RELEASED IN NEW DELHI

Current Context: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal released the LEADS 2025 Report in New Delhi and felicitated the winners of the LEAPS 2025 Awards.

ABOUT LEADS Report 2025

• LEADS stands for Logistics Ease Across Different States Evaluates logistics performance and infrastructure across States and Union Territories.
• To improve logistics efficiency and reduce transportation costs in India. Promote competitive and integrated logistics systems among states.

PARAMETERS

• Infrastructure
• Services
• Operating & regulatory environment
• Timeliness and supply chain efficiency
• Assessment Framework: Four-tier performance structure (Exemplars, High Performers, Accelerators, Growth Seekers)
• Weightage: Nearly 59% to objective indicators
• Aligned with: PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy

Performance Categories:

About LEADS 2025

• Full Form: Logistics Ease Across Different States
• Edition: Seventh
• Published by: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry

APPOINTMENT

9.  V.D. SATHEESAN NAMED KERALA CHIEF MINISTER

Current Context: The Congress party announced V.D. Satheesan as the Chief Minister of Kerala.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• New CM: V.D. Satheesan (13th Chief Minister of Kerala)
• Constituency: Paravur (since 2001, sixth consecutive term in 2026)
• Previous Role: Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly (2021-2026)
• Profession: Lawyer and Congress leader
• Kerala Legislative Assembly:
  • Type: Unicameral legislature
  • Seats: 140
  • Majority mark: 71 seats
  • Statehood: 1 November 1956 (under States Reorganisation Act, 1956)
• Election Outcome:
  • UDF Seats: 102
  • Ended: 10-year rule of Left Democratic Front led by Pinarayi Vijayan

HIMACHAL NEWS

10. HIMACHAL: AT THE HIGHEST POLLING STATION IN COMIC, ONLY FEMALE STAFF WILL PERFORM ELECTION DUTY

Current Context: Himachal Pradesh’s highest polling station at Comic in Lahaul-Spiti district will have only female staff performing election duty for the Panchayat elections 2026.

ABOUT THE POLLING STATION

• Altitude: 4,587 metres (highest polling station in Himachal Pradesh)
• Development Block: Kaja
• Panchayat: Langja Panchayat

FEMALE STAFF DEPLOYMENT

• Coverage: 5 wards of Lara Panchayat and 3 wards of Langja Panchayat
• Staff Deployed: Only female polling teams and female security personnel
• Total Female Polling Teams Formed: 10

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