Prelims Current Affairs includes World Turtle Day 2026, National Anti-Terrorism Day 2026, Prahaar , Government To Launch Jeevan App And Shatayu Dashboard, Maharashtra Becomes No.1 State In Central Government Projects, Kerala Launches India’s First Dedicated Cabinet-Level Ai Portfolio, Shrammitra App Launched In Haryana, Suryastra Rocket System & In-Space Offers Full Pslv Technology Transfer

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD TURTLE DAY 2026

Current Context: World Turtle Day is an annual observance held every May 23rd, created to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats.

ABOUT THE DAY

• Founded by American Tortoise Rescue in 2000.
• It focuses on protection of endangered turtle species worldwide.
• Promote awareness about threats like habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade.
• Encourage conservation and protection of turtles and tortoises.

Key differences between Turtles and Tortoises

• Turtles mostly live in water, while tortoises mainly live on land.
• Turtles have webbed feet or flippers; tortoises have strong elephant-like legs.
• Turtles usually have lighter, flatter shells; tortoises have heavy dome-shaped shells.
• Turtles are good swimmers, while tortoises move slowly on land.
• Turtles eat plants and small aquatic animals; tortoises are mostly herbivorous.

IMPORTANT DAYS

2.  National ANTI-TERRORISM DAY 2026

Current Context: Anti-Terrorism Day 2026 is being observed across India on May 21 to spread awareness against terrorism and violence. 

ABOUT THE DAY

• It is observed to spread awareness against terrorism, violence, and extremism.
• It commemorates the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on 21 May 1991 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
• Rajiv Gandhi served as: India’s 6th Prime Minister (1984-1989)

IMPORTANT DAYS

3.  PRAHAAR

Current Context:  India launched its first national counter-terrorism strategy PRAHAAR in 2026 to strengthen national security and counter-terror coordination

PRAHAAR – India’s First National Counter-Terrorism Strategy

• PRAHAAR is India’s first comprehensive national counter-terrorism policy launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in February 2026.
• Strengthen India’s counter-terrorism framework through intelligence-led, coordinated, and proactive action.
• Address emerging threats like cyber-terrorism, drones, radicalisation, and cross-border terrorism.

POLITY & E-GOVERNANCE

4. GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH JEEVAN APP AND SHATAYU DASHBOARD

Current Context: Union Minister Virendra Kumar will launch the JEEVAN mobile app for senior citizens and the SHATAYU dashboard for geriatric caregivers on 22 May 2026.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVES

• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Theme: “Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy”

JEEVAN App

• Improve access to elderly care services and support systems.
• Strengthen India’s care economy through technology and community participation.
• Digital platform for senior citizen support and care services.
• Helps connect elderly people with caregiving and welfare resources.
• Part of the government’s broader elderly welfare and geriatric care initiatives
• SHATAYU Dashboard: Information platform for geriatric caregivers focused on elderly care services and caregiving support
• Helps strengthen elderly care management and monitoring.
• Care Economy includes: Childcare, eldercare, disability support, health-related home care, domestic care services

ECONOMY

5. MAHARASHTRA BECOMES NO.1 STATE IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

Current Context: Recent data shows Maharashtra leads the country in the number of central government projects, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Abouts

• Maharashtra emerged as the leading state in implementation and attraction of major Central Government-backed infrastructure and investment projects in 2026.
• State received large investments in railways, renewable energy, nuclear energy, logistics, and industrial corridors. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) infrastructure project reports.

TOP STATES BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

STATES IN NEWS  

6. KERALA LAUNCHES INDIA’S FIRST DEDICATED CABINET-LEVEL AI PORTFOLIO

Current Context: Kerala has become the first Indian state to create an Artificial Intelligence (AI) portfolio at the cabinet level under the new UDF government.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

• AI has been placed under the Industries & Commerce Department along with IT, Start-ups, Mining & Geology, and Handlooms & Textiles.
• Promote AI-driven governance, innovation, startups, and industrial growth.
• Accelerate adoption of emerging technologies in public services and economic development.
• Portfolio assigned to: PK Kunhalikutty (senior IUML leader)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Portfolio

• An AI portfolio is a dedicated government department or ministerial responsibility focused on Artificial Intelligence-related policies, governance, and development.

 STATES IN NEWS

7. SHRAMMITRA APP LAUNCHED IN HARYANA

Current Context: Government of Haryana has launched the ShramMitra app, a digital platform connecting workers and employers directly through smartphones.

ABOUT SHRAMMITRA APP

• Modernize the traditional labour chowk system through a digital platform.
• Provide direct, transparent, and faster employment opportunities to workers.

Features

• Functions as an “Electronic Employment Exchange”.
• Workers can register skills like mason, carpenter, electrician, plumber, welder, painter, gardener, barber, and cobbler.
• Employers can upload job requirements and directly hire workers.
• Supports Hindi, English, and Punjabi languages.
• Includes geo-mapping technology for location and distance tracking.
• Developed by: Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board

Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCW Welfare Board)

• It is a state-level statutory body created for welfare of construction workers.
• Constituted under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996.

DEFENCE

8. SURYASTRA ROCKET SYSTEM

Current Context: India recently achieved a major milestone in indigenous defence technology after private defence firm Nibe Limited successfully tested the long-range Suryastra rocket system at Chandipur.

ABOUT SURYASTRA ROCKET SYSTEM

• Suryastra is India’s first indigenous multi-calibre long-range rocket launcher system.
• Based on Israel’s PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System) technology
• Munitions:
  • 122 mm rockets (closer engagements)
  • 306 mm EXTRA missiles (up to 150 km)
  • 370 mm Predator Hawk missiles (up to 300 km)
  • SkyStriker loitering munitions/suicide drones (up to 100 km)
• Features: Modern fire control system with GPS, inertial navigation, digital ballistic computation; semi-automated reload and shoot-and-scoot capabilities

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

9. IN-SPACe OFFERS FULL PSLV TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Current Context: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has offered full technology transfer of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to Indian industry.

ABOUT PSLV

• PSLV stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
• Developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• First successful launch: 1994.
• Launch satellites into Polar Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and other orbits.

Features

• Four-stage launch vehicle using solid and liquid fuels alternately.
• PS1 (Solid Fuel for Lift-off) → PS2 (Liquid Fuel for Controlled Flight) → PS3 (Solid Fuel for High-Speed Propulsion) → PS4 (Liquid Fuel for Precise Satellite Placement in Orbit)
• Known as ISRO’s “workhorse launch vehicle”.
• Can launch multiple satellites in a single mission.
• Eligibility: Indian-owned non-government entities with at least 7 years of operations and 5 years of space/aerospace experience; average turnover above ₹400 crore or valuation exceeding ₹1,000 crore
• Previous launch vehicle technology transfer: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) – completed in September 2025

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