Prelims Current Affairs includes International Day For Biological Diversity 2026, 3rd India-Nordic Summit 2026, Bwssb Ranks Among World’s Top Five Water Utilities, Ayush Grid Initiative Gets Boost As Ministry Launches Ayush Anudan Portal, She-Mart Initiative, Asian Productivity Organization (Apo), Ias Officer Saurabh Vijay Takes Charge As Ceo, Of Uidai, International Booker Prize 2026 & Pm Modi Receives Fao Agricola Medal

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 2026

Current Context: The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. 

ABOUT THE DAY

• Celebrated to increase awareness about biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of biological resources.
• Proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993.
• Marks the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992.
• Significance of 22 May: Commemorates adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act
• Theme 2026: “Acting locally for global impact”

INTERNATIONAL

2. 3RD INDIA-NORDIC SUMMIT 2026

Current Context: Prime Minister of India co-chaired the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, Norway, alongside the heads of government from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

• Objective: Strengthen cooperation between India and Nordic countries in green technology, clean energy, trade, innovation, and sustainable development.
• The 3rd India-Nordic Summit is a high-level meeting between India and the five Nordic countries.
• Held on 19 May 2026 in Oslo, Norway
• Previous Summits: Stockholm (2018), Copenhagen (2022)
• Next Summit (4th): To be hosted by Finland
• Key Outcome: Elevated to Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership
• Participating Countries: India, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland
• Geopolitical Backing: Nordic nations reiterated support for India’s permanent membership in reformed UN Security Council (UNSC) and backed India’s application to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

Nordic Countries

• Nordic Countries are a group of countries in Northern Europe known for high human development and strong welfare systems.
• Nordic countries from north to south: Iceland → Norway → Sweden → Finland →

 INTERNATIONAL

3. BWSSB RANKS AMONG WORLD’S TOP FIVE WATER UTILITIES

Current Context: The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) was ranked among the world’s top five water utilities at the Global Water Summit 2026 in Madrid, Spain.

ABOUT THE RECOGNITION

• BWSSB became the only Indian water utility to secure a place in three major global award categories.
• Ranked among top five in:
• Utility of the Year
• Water Project of the Year
• Contribution towards UN SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
• Recognition: Only Indian water utility to secure place among global top five across three major award categories
• Five Pillars Approach: Water conservation, wastewater recycling, reuse, sustainable urban water governance
• Cauvery Stage V Drinking Water Project: Placed among top five global projects in “Water Project of the Year” category

Global Water Summit 2026

• It was first launched around 2006 as a global platform for water utilities, industries, investors, and policymakers.
• Global Water Summit 2026 was held from 18-20 May 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
• Organized by Global Water Intelligence.
• Theme: “Delivering the Water Transition”

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

4.      AYUSH GRID INITIATIVE GETS BOOST AS MINISTRY LAUNCHES AYUSH ANUDAN PORTAL

Current Context: The Ministry of Ayush has launched the Ayush Anudan Portal under the Ayush Grid initiative to digitise grant approvals for AYUSH institutions.

ABOUT THE PORTAL

• To ensure transparency, efficiency, accountability, and paperless grant management in the Ayush sector.
• Streamline submission, approval, and monitoring of funding proposals under Central Sector Schemes.
• Online submission and tracking of grant proposals.
• Integrated with NGO Darpan Portal for faster verification and authentication.
• Scheme-wise application management and real-time monitoring system.
• Ministry: Ministry of Ayush
• Integration with: NGO Darpan Portal for faster verification
• AYUSH Systems: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Sowa-Rigpa

AYUSH Grid Initiative

• AYUSH Grid Initiative is a digital health initiative launched by the Ministry of Ayush to create an integrated IT backbone for the AYUSH sector.
• Initiated in 2018 under the Digital India programme

NGO Darpan Portal

• NGO Darpan Portal is an online platform for registration and interaction between NGOs/Voluntary Organizations (VOs) and Government ministries/departments.
• Managed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).

SCHEMES

5. SHE-MART INITIATIVE

Current Context: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has initiated a nationwide roadmap for the creation of women-led rural marketing ecosystems through SHE-MARTs initiative.

ABOUT SHE-MART INITIATIVE

• Help rural women move from credit-linked livelihoods to becoming business owners.
• Provide market access, branding, and retail support to women entrepreneurs.
• Implemented under: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)
• Type: Community-owned retail outlets within cluster-level federations of self-help groups
• Products Supported: Handicrafts, textiles, food products, agricultural produce, value-added processed products

SHE-MART Initiative

• SHE-MART stands for Self-Help Entrepreneur Mart.
• Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 to promote women-led rural enterprises.

ORGANISATIONS

6. ASIAN PRODUCTIVITY ORGANIZATION (APO)

Current Context: The 68th Session of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Governing Body is being hosted by the Government of India in New Delhi.

ABOUT SESSION

• Focus on productivity-led economic growth and sustainable development.
• Discussions on APO Vision 2030 and future regional cooperation strategy.
• Emphasis on: Digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Innovation and startup ecosystem, Green Productivity and climate sustainability
• India is hosting the session as the current Chair of the APO Governing Body.
• Over 60 delegates from 20 member economies are participating.
• The Governing Body is the highest decision-making body of APO

ABOUT APO

• APO is an intergovernmental organization established in 1961.
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan.
• Members: 21 Asia-Pacific economies including India. India is founding member of APO.

National Productivity Council (NPC)

• National Productivity Council (NPC) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Established in 1958.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

APPOINTMENTS

7. IAS OFFICER SAURABH VIJAY TAKES CHARGE AS CEO OF UIDAI

Current Context: IAS officer Saurabh Vijay has assumed charge as CEO of UIDAI, the authority managing India’s Aadhaar ecosystem.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Position: CEO, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
• Batch: 1998 batch IAS officer (Maharashtra cadre)

UIDAI

• UIDAI stands for Unique Identification Authority of India.
• Established in 2009 by the Government of India.
• A statutory authority under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• Functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Headquarters: New Delhi

AWARDS

8. INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2026

Current Context: ‘Taiwan Travelogue’ by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King, won the 2026 International Booker Prize.

ABOUT THE PRIZE

• The International Booker Prize is a prestigious literary award for fiction translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
• Awarded annually to the author and translator together.

WINNER 2026

• Taiwan Travelogue won the International Booker Prize 2026.
• Author: Yáng Shuāng-zǐ
• Translator: Lin King
• First novel originally written in Mandarin Chinese to win the prize.
• Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ (2022) was the first Hindi work to win this prize.

AWARDS

9. PM MODI RECEIVES FAO AGRICOLA MEDAL

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the FAO Agricola Medal on 20 May 2026 at the Food and Agriculture Organization Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Medal: FAO Agricola Medal (one of highest honours of FAO)
• India’s initiatives cited: Financial inclusion for farmers, direct income support to over 110 million farmers, world’s largest food-based social safety net covering 800 million people, promotion of millets through International Year of Millets 2023
• Note: First visit by an Indian Head of Government to FAO Headquarters in 30 year

FAO

• FAO stands for Food and Agriculture Organization.
• Specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945.
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy.

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