Prelims Current Affairs includes Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026, Strait Of Hormuz, Bioasia 2026 Summit, Bee Corridors Initiative, Tidal Flooding Declared State-Specific Disaster In Kerala, Airbus H-125 Light Utility Helicopter, Defence Acquisition Council, Shahpur Kandi Dam Project, India Ai Impact Summit 2026 & United Nations Office For Disarmament Affairs (Unoda)

Sports

1. ASIAN INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026

Current Context: India’s Tejaswin Shankar won the gold medal in the men’s heptathlon at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026 held in Tianjin, China, and created a new national indoor record.

ABOUT TEJASWIN SHANKAR’S ACHIEVEMENT

• Event: Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026
• Location: Tianjin, China
• Discipline: Men’s Heptathlon
• Medal Won: Gold Medal
• Performance: Tejaswin Shankar scored 5,993 points, setting a new national indoor record.
• Record Details: The new score surpassed his previous best of 5,650 points achieved in the United States in 2021.

INDIA’S MEDAL TALLY

• Total Medals Won: Five
• Overall Rank: Sixth Place
• Major Medal Winners: Tejaswin Shankar – Gold Medal (Men’s Heptathlon); Pooja – Silver Medal (High Jump); Tajinderpal Singh Toor – Silver Medal (Shot Put); Ancy Sojan – Bronze Medal (Long Jump).

PLACE IN NEWS

2. STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Current Context: Naval forces from Iran, Russia, and China are set to conduct a joint military exercise near the Strait of Hormuz.

ABOUT STRAIT OF HORMUZ

• Location: It is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.
• Connecting Water Bodies: It connects the Persian Gulf in the west with the Gulf of Oman in the east and further with the Arabian Sea.
• Bordering Countries: Iran lies on the northern coast, while the United Arab Emirates and Oman lie on the southern side.
• Width: At its narrowest point, the strait is approximately 29 nautical miles (54 kilometres) wide.
• Important Islands: Hengam, Hormuz, and Qishm are key islands located in the strait.
• Global Significance: It is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime choke points.
• Energy Trade Importance: Around 25 per cent of global oil trade and nearly 30 per cent of global liquefied natural gas trade pass through this route.

SUMMIT

3. BIOASIA 2026 SUMMIT

Current Context: The 23^rd edition of BioAsia 2026 inaugurated in Hyderabad, highlighting Telangana’s growing importance in biotechnology and digital health innovation.

ABOUT BIOASIA 2026

• Event: BioAsia 2026 (23rd Edition)
• Location: Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Telangana
• Theme: “TechBio Unleashed – Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Revolutionary Changes in Life Sciences”
• Focus Areas: The summit focuses on artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery, automation in biotechnology, next-generation biologics, and digital transformation in healthcare.
• Purpose: The event promotes collaboration between life sciences, biotechnology, and advanced digital technologies.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

4. BEE CORRIDORS INITIATIVE

Current Context: The National Highways Authority of India has launched India’s first Bee Corridors initiative to develop pollinator-friendly green corridors along National Highways.

ABOUT BEE CORRIDORS INITIATIVE

• Launched By: National Highways Authority of India
• Concept: The initiative involves creating continuous stretches of bee-friendly vegetation along highways.
• Objective: It aims to support honeybees and other pollinators, improving biodiversity and ecological stability.
• Key Features: The project includes plantation of nectar-rich species, staggered flowering cycles, and preservation of nesting habitats.
• Important Plant Species: Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris are prioritised.
• Targets for 2026–27: Around 40 lakh trees will be planted, with nearly 60 per cent under the Bee Corridor initiative.

STATE IN NEWS

5. TIDAL FLOODING DECLARED STATE-SPECIFIC DISASTER IN KERALA

Current Context: Recently, the Government of Kerala classified tidal flooding as a State-specific disaster.

ABOUT TIDAL FLOODING

• Definition: Temporary flooding of low-lying coastal areas due to high tide events.
• Alternate Terms: Sunny day flooding, king tide flooding, nuisance flooding.
• Causes: High tides influenced by winds, offshore disturbances, and full moon or new moon cycles.
• Occurrence: Can occur multiple times daily; intensity increases during full and new moons.
• Kerala Impact: Common along Kerala’s coastline due to temporary rise in Arabian Sea level.
• National Significance: First such classification by any Indian State.
• Other State-Specific Disasters in Kerala: Coastal erosion, lightning, strong winds, soil piping, heat-related impacts, human-wildlife conflict.

DEFENCE

6. AIRBUS H-125 LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTER

Current Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India and the President of France inaugurated the Final Assembly Line of the Airbus H-125 Helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka..

ABOUT H-125 HELICOPTER

• Type: Single-engine light utility helicopter.
• Family: Ecureuil series.
• Key Reputation: High reliability and low maintenance.
• Unique Record: Only helicopter to land on Mount Everest summit.
• Uses: Emergency services, rescue missions, tourism, law enforcement, firefighting.

KEY FEATURES

• Performance: Suitable for high-altitude and high-temperature environments.
• Versatility: Multi-role operational capability.
• Significance to India: Strengthens high-altitude logistics and rescue operations.

DEFENCE

7. DEFENCE ACQUISITION COUNCIL

Current Context: The Defence Acquisition Council approved major procurement proposals worth nearly 3.60 lakh crore rupees to modernise the Armed Forces.

ABOUT DEFENCE ACQUISITION COUNCIL

• Status: Highest decision-making body for defence procurement.
• Established: 2001, post Kargil security reforms.
• Chairman: Defence Minister of India.
• Members: Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs.

KEY FUNCTIONS

• Procurement Approval: Grants Acceptance of Necessity for acquisitions.
• Categorisation: Classifies proposals under Buy, Buy and Make, and Make.
• Strategic Planning: Approves long-term capability plans.
• Policy Oversight: Handles offsets and technology transfer matters.

ECONOMY

8.  SHAHPUR KANDI DAM PROJECT

Current Context: The Shahpur Kandi Dam project on the Ravi River is nearing completion, aiming to improve India’s utilisation of river water..

ABOUT SHAHPUR KANDI DAM PROJECT

• Location: Ravi River, Pathankot district, Punjab.
• Project Type: Concrete gravity dam.
• Declared: National project.
• Construction: Government of Punjab Irrigation Department.
• Power Generation: Hydropower production linked to Ranjit Sagar Dam releases.
• Irrigation Benefits: Supports irrigation in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Strategic Significance: Prevents surplus Ravi River water from flowing into Pakistan.

SCIENCE AND TECH

9. INDIA AI IMPACT SUMMIT 2026

Current Context: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced in New Delhi as a major international event on Artificial Intelligence cooperation.

ABOUT SUMMIT

• Significance: First multilateral Artificial Intelligence summit hosted in the Global South.
• Theme: Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya.
• Objective: Promote responsible, ethical, and development-focused Artificial Intelligence.
• Framework: Based on Three Sutras and Seven Chakras.
• Flagship Initiatives: AI for All, AI by Her, YUVAi.

OTHER GLOBAL FORUMS

• Global Partnership on AI: Promotes human-centric Artificial Intelligence.
• United Kingdom AI Safety Summit: Focuses on Artificial Intelligence risk management.
• Group of Seven Hiroshima AI Process: Develops global guardrails for Artificial Intelligence.

ORGANISATION

10. UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS (UNODA)

Current Context: The Indian Army organised a United Nations training program on small arms control for the Asia-Pacific region in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

ABOUT UNODA

• Established:
• Headquarters: New York, United States of America.
• Mandate: Disarmament and arms control.
• Core Goal: Elimination of weapons of mass destruction and regulation of conventional weapons.
• Program Significance: Enhances regional cooperation in arms control.

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