Prelims Current Affairs includes World Humanitarian Day 2026, Indore Gets India’s First Virtual Zoo, Hara Mangrove Forest, India Launches First Guide To Grasslands At Unccd Cop17, Vihaan – India’s Indigenous Broadband Networking Chip, India-Thailand Maitree Exercise Begins On August 18, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship And Awards 2024 & 2025 & Dr Joginder Habbi Honoured With Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY 2026

Current Context: World Humanitarian Day is observed every year on 19 August to honour humanitarian workers, raise awareness about humanitarian crises and call for the protection of civilians and aid workers.

ABOUT WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY

• On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack struck the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, where the UN headquarters was located. 22 humanitarian workers were killed.
• Five years later, the UN General Assembly designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day.
• Observed since: 2009
• Established by: United Nations General Assembly
• Theme 2026:“Honouring fallen humanitarians and calling for greater protection of health care”
• Hashtag:#ActForHumanity

STATES IN NEWS

2. INDORE GETS INDIA’S FIRST VIRTUAL ZOO

Current Context: Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya (Indore Zoo) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has introduced India’s first virtual zoo, using digital technology to provide visitors with an interactive experience of wildlife and animal habitats.

ABOUT THE VIRTUAL ZOO

• A virtual zoo uses technologies such as 3D visualisation, digital screens, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to provide an immersive wildlife experience.
• Visitors can learn about animals and their habitats through interactive digital content.
• It allows people to explore animals that may not be physically present in the zoo.
• The initiative combines wildlife education with modern digital technology.

ENVIRONMENT

3. HARA MANGROVE FOREST

Current Context: Recent satellite imagery showed an oil spill off the southern coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, posing a threat to the Hara mangrove forest, one of Iran’s most important mangrove ecosystems.

ABOUT HARA MANGROVE FOREST

• Hara Mangrove Forest is located around the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran.
• It is mainly found along the coasts of Qeshm Island and the mainland coast of Hormozgan Province.
• The forest is composed mainly of the mangrove species Avicennia marina.
• The forest lies near an important international maritime route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
• The Hara Protected Area is recognised as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

ENVIRONMENT

4.      INDIA LAUNCHES FIRST GUIDE TO GRASSLANDS AT UNCCD COP17

Current Context: India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India on 17 August 2026 at UNCCD COP17, highlighting the ecological importance of India’s grasslands, savannas, scrublands and other open ecosystems.

ABOUT THE GUIDE

• Short form: ONEs – Other Open Natural Ecosystems
• It is India’s first comprehensive guide focusing specifically on open natural ecosystems.
• The guide aims to improve understanding of ecosystems that are often incorrectly considered “wastelands” or degraded lands.
• It provides information useful for conservation, restoration, land-use planning and biodiversity management.
• Launched At:17th Session of COP17 to UNCCD, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• Developed by:Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
• Collaboration:Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Includes:Grasslands, savannas, scrublands, rocky plateaus, ravines, coastal ecosystems
• Key Terms:
• Oran:Traditional community-protected sacred grove/commons (Rajasthan)
• Gauchar:Village grazing land for livestock
• ABOUT UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification)
• Adopted: 17 June 1994
• Entered into force: 26 December 1996
• Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
• India: Became a signatory in 1994 and ratified the Convention in 1996.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 

5. VIHAAN – INDIA’S INDIGENOUS BROADBAND NETWORKING CHIP

Current Context: Chennai-based Aheesa Digital Innovations achieved first-pass silicon success for its VIHAAN System-on-Chip (SoC), marking a significant step towards developing indigenous semiconductor technology for broadband networking.

ABOUT VIHAAN

• VIHAAN is an indigenous broadband networking System-on-Chip (SoC).
• It is designed for use in high-speed broadband networking equipment.
• It aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported networking chips.
• The project is relevant to India’s broader semiconductor self-reliance and Digital India
• An SoC integrates multiple electronic components and functions onto a single semiconductor chip.
• Instead of using separate chips for different functions, an SoC can combine functions such as: Processing, Memory control, Networking, Input/output interfaces and Security functions.
• First-pass silicon success (worked on first fabrication attempt)

DEFENCE

6. INDIA-THAILAND MAITREE EXERCISE BEGINS ON AUGUST 18

Current Context: 15th edition of India-Thailand bilateral military exercise MAITREE-XV began on 18 August 2026.

ABOUT EXERCISE MAITREE

• Venue:Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand
• Began in:2006
• Participating Units:
• India:9 Gorkha Rifles
• Thailand:3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division
• Focus:
• Joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations
• Jungle and semi-urban terrain
• Chapter VII of UN Charter (threats to peace, breaches of peace, acts of aggression)

AWARDS & HONOURS

7. SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP AND AWARDS 2024 & 2025

Current Context: President conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2024 and 2025 to 115 artists.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, also known as Akademi Puraskar, are among India’s important national honours for the performing arts.
• They recognise outstanding contributions to music, dance, theatre, traditional and folk performing arts.
• Fellows (Akademi Ratna):7 artists
• Awards (Akademi Puraskar):108 artists
• Total:115 artists

Fellows (Akademi Ratna):

1. Ramlal Bareth
2. A V Anand
3. Rita Ganguly
4. Puru Dadheech
5. Chittaranjan Jyotishi
6. Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma
7. Sudharani Raghupathy

Field Categories:

• Music (24 awards – 12 each year)
• Dance (24 awards – 12 each year)
• Theatre (20 awards – 10 each year)
• Folk and Tribal/Puppet/Mask Making (26 awards – 13 each year)
• Overall and Others (10 awards – 5 each year)

SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI

• Established: 1953
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Ministry: Ministry of Culture
• It works to preserve, promote and develop India’s performing arts traditions.

HIMACHAL NEWS  

8. DR JOGINDER HABBI HONOURED WITH SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARD

Current Context: Dr Joginder Habbi, a renowned folk artist and cultural researcher from Himachal Pradesh, was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2025 in the field of Folk Dance.

ABOUT DR JOGINDER HABBI

• He is associated with the preservation, documentation and promotion of Himachal Pradesh’s traditional folk culture.
• His work focuses on safeguarding the folk dances, traditions and cultural heritage of Himachal Pradesh.
• His work has helped bring attention to the cultural heritage of the hill communities of Himachal Pradesh.
• He has also worked towards creating awareness among younger generations about traditional performing arts.
• Focus:Sirmauri Nati and other endangered folk forms
• Approach:Traditional folk instruments, costumes, songs and dances (no remixed songs or electronic instruments)

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