Prelims Current Affairs includes International Day Of Sign Languages, India Co-Sponsors Inaugural P4m Summit At Un, Wwf Global Conservation Conference Inaugurated In Jaipur, State Of Global Water Resources 2025 Report, Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, Aashvast Lab & Geran-2

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES

Current Context: The International Day of Sign Languages is observed annually on 23 September to raise awareness about the importance of sign languages in the realisation of the human rights of deaf people.

ABOUT THE DAY

• Proclaimed by:UN General Assembly
• Adopted:19 December 2017
• Reason for Date: The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established on 23 September 1951.
• First Celebrated:2018
• Theme 2026:“Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights”

2026 Milestones:

• 75th anniversary of World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)
• 20 years since adoption of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. INDIA CO-SPONSORS INAUGURAL P4M SUMMIT AT UN

Current Context: India co-sponsored the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity (P4M) Summit on 21 September 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Strengthen the multilateral system based on the UN Charter.
• Promote respect for international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Support reforms that make international institutions more representative, inclusive and effective.

Initial Co-Sponsors:

• Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, European Union, India, Kenya

Key Highlights:

• Highlighted “4F” crisis: Fuel, Food, Fertiliser, Finance
• Called for de-risking and diversification of supply chains

P4M Declaration:

• Reaffirmed importance of multilateral system founded on UN Charter
• Committed to making institutions more effective, representative, inclusive

ENVIRONMENT

3. WWF GLOBAL CONSERVATION CONFERENCE INAUGURATED IN JAIPUR

Current Context: Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister inaugurated the WWF Global Conservation Conference in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 21 September 2026.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

• Representatives from more than 100 countries participated, with discussions focusing on global conservation and coexistence with nature through local community involvement.
• Key Focus: Wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, environmental sustainability and coexistence between people and nature.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Community Participation: Bhupender Yadav emphasised the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts.
• Wildlife Conservation: The conference highlighted conservation initiatives involving grassland-based species, including the one-horned rhinoceros and wild water buffalo.
• India’s Conservation Progress: The Minister highlighted India’s expansion of protected areas, tiger reserves, elephant reserves and Ramsar sites.
• About WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
• Founded:1961
• Type:International non-governmental organization

India’s Conservation Profile:

Constitutional Basis:

• Article 48A: State directive to protect environment
• Article 51A(g): Fundamental duty of citizens

REPORTS/INDICES

4. STATE OF GLOBAL WATER RESOURCES 2025 REPORT

Current Context: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its State of Global Water Resources 2025 report.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• The report warned of persistent groundwater depletion in India, particularly in northwestern regions, despite above-normal river flows in several major river basins.
• Nature: Annual, science-based assessment of global water resources and the hydrological cycle.

KEY GLOBAL FINDINGS

• Erratic Water Cycle: The global water cycle is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with extreme floods and droughts occurring in different regions.
• River Flows: 2025 was among the driest years for global rivers in approximately 35 years of monitoring.
• Normal River Flows: Only around 36% of global river basin areas recorded normal flows in 2025.
• Freshwater Reserves: Groundwater, glaciers and other terrestrial water reserves continued to decline.
• Regional Imbalance: Some regions experienced water shortages, while others faced excessive water availability and flooding.
• India’s Depletion:Persistent groundwater deficits during 2022-2025
• Freshwater Storage:Global decline since 2014-16
• Glacier Loss:408 ±132 Gt mass lost in 2025 (4th consecutive year of net ice loss)

DEFENCE

5. EXERCISE TARANG SHAKTI 2026

Current Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to host the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 26 September to 12 October 2026.

ABOUT THE EXERCISE

• The exercise is a multilateral air exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational coordination and exchange of best practices among participating air forces.
• Edition: 2nd edition, 2026.
• The first edition was conducted in 2024.
• It was India’s first multinational air exercise of this scale.

DEFENCE

6. AASHVAST LAB

Current Context: The Indian Army is establishing six AASHVAST laboratories across India to screen military drones and, subsequently, CCTV systems for hidden electronic and firmware-level vulnerabilities.

ABOUT AASHVAST LAB

• The first AASHVAST lab has already been inaugurated in New Delhi, with at least five more planned. The facility was inaugurated by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth on 14 August 2026.
• Full Form: Assessment and Analysis of Electronic Systems Hardware for Vulnerabilities and Security Threats.
• Developed by: QuickPay Pvt. Ltd. for the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME) of the Indian Army.
• Purpose: To examine the hardware, firmware and embedded systems of defence electronic equipment for security vulnerabilities.

DEFENCE

7. GERAN-2

Current Context: New satellite imagery reveals Russia’s expanding Geran-2 drone production at Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan.

ABOUT GERAN-2

• Geran-2 is Russia’s designation for the Shahed-136-type one-way attack drone, originally developed by Iran.
• It is a long-range, propeller-driven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used primarily for attacks against ground targets.
• Russia began licensed production of Shahed-type drones at Alabuga, Tatarstan, following Russian-Iranian cooperation that began in 2022.

KEY FEATURES

• Type: One-way attack UAV, often described as a loitering munition.
• Propulsion: Piston engine with a propeller.
• Speed: Up to 180 km/h
• Endurance: Up to 12 hours

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