Prelims Current Affairs includes International Moon Day, Rbi Financial Inclusion Index Rises To 70 In Fy26, Epfo, Vishwas 2026 Scheme, Parivartan Scheme, Investment Friendliness Index, Uk Launches Storm Fighter Loyal Wingman Programme, Malvan Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft & Iaf Rafale Jets Reach Australia For Pitch Black 2026

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL MOON DAY

Current Context: International Moon Day is observed every year on 20 July to commemorate the first human landing on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

• Declared By: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Under UN Resolution on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
• First Observed:
• The 2026 theme is “One Moon, One Vision, One Future”, highlighting global cooperation for the peaceful and sustainable exploration of the Moon.

ECONOMY

2. RBI FINANCIAL INCLUSION INDEX RISES TO 70 IN FY26

Current Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that its Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) increased to 70.0 for the year ending March 2026 (FY26) from 67.0 in March 2025.

ABOUT FINANCIAL INCLUSION INDEX

• It is reflecting deeper financial inclusion across the banking, insurance, investments, postal, and pension sectors.
• The improvement was primarily driven by higher usage of financial services.
• Purpose: To measure the extent of financial inclusion in India through a comprehensive composite index.
• First Published: August 2021 (for the year ending March 2021).
• The index is published annually in July.

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

3. EPFO VISHWAS 2026 SCHEME

Current Context: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched VISHWAS 2026, a one-time dispute resolution scheme to facilitate the amicable settlement of disputes relating to damages (penalties) levied for delayed EPF contributions.

• The scheme became operational on 29 June 2026 and will remain open for six months.

LEGAL PROVISIONS COVERED

• Section 14B of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (Damages for delayed EPF contributions).
• Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

ELIGIBILITY

• Establishments with pending, disputed, or pre-adjudication cases relating to damages for delayed EPF payments.
• Covers defaults that occurred on or before 14 June 2024.

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

4. PARIVARTAN SCHEME

Current Context: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs approved guidelines for PARIVARTAN Scheme.

ABOUT PARIVARTAN SCHEME

• The Central Government has launched the PARIVARTAN Scheme to facilitate the replacement of old, highly polluting trucks and buses operating in the National Capital Region (NCR) with Bharat Stage (BS)-VI compliant or electric vehicles (EVs).
• The scheme aims to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality in the NCR.
• Full Form:Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
• The scheme is designed to accelerate the replacement of end-of-life commercial vehicles with cleaner and more fuel-efficient alternatives.

REPORTS/INDICES

5. INVESTMENT FRIENDLINESS INDEX

Current Context: NITI Aayog released the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) 2025, ranking Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu as the top three States for creating an investor-friendly business environment.

• Purpose: To assess and rank States and Union Territories based on the attractiveness of their investment ecosystem.
• Objective: Promote competitive federalism by encouraging States to improve the ease of doing business and attract domestic and foreign investments.
• Coverage:28 States and 8 Union Territories
• Pillars:8 (infrastructure, business climate, resources, government policy, regulatory ease, institutional environment, financial health, environmental resilience)
• Announced in:Union Budget 2025-26

Top Rankings:

Key Highlights:

• Goa and Odisha among top performers
• Maharashtra ranked second due to business climate pillar
• Tamil Nadu ranked third due to infrastructure and business climate
• Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands among lowest-ranked
• Hilly & Northeast States: Uttarakhand took the top spot.
• City States & Union Territories: Goa led this category

INTERNATIONAL

6. UK LAUNCHES STORM FIGHTER LOYAL WINGMAN PROGRAMME

Current Context: The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) launched the Storm Fighter programme in July 2026 to develop a new generation of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), also known as “Loyal Wingman” drones, that will operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft.

• Objective: Develop autonomous combat drones capable of flying in coordination with manned fighter aircraft.
• Part of: UK’s long-term plan to build Europe’s first sixth-generation air force.

WHAT IS A LOYAL WINGMAN?

• A Loyal Wingman is an autonomous or AI-enabled unmanned aircraft that accompanies a manned fighter aircraft during missions.
• It acts as a force multiplier, performing high-risk missions while reducing danger to human pilots. The concept is internationally known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

DEFENCE

7. MALVAN ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE SHALLOW WATER CRAFT

Current Context: INS Malvan, the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), is scheduled to be commissioned into the Indian Navy on 22 July 2026.

• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, the vessel is part of India’s indigenous coastal defence modernization programme.
• Named After: Malvan, a coastal town in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, renowned for the historic Sindhudurg Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Capabilities:

• Underwater surveillance
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) in coastal waters
• Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO)
• Mine warfare

DEFENCE

8. IAF RAFALE JETS REACH AUSTRALIA FOR PITCH BLACK 2026

Current Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed its Rafale fighter aircraft to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026.

• It is one of the world’s largest multinational air combat exercises and aims to enhance interoperability, operational readiness, and cooperation among participating air forces.
• Venue: RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, Australia.
• First Held:
• Frequency: Biennial (every two years).
• Name Origin: “Pitch Black” refers to the night-time flying conditions under which the exercise was originally conducted.

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