Prelims Current Affairs includes World Malaria Day 2026, National Panchayati Raj Day 2026, India-Japan Data Pact For Ai Smart Cities, Finland Builds World’s First Permanent Nuclear Waste Vault, Turkey Tightens Social Media Access For Children, The Druzhba Pipeline, Ins Nirekshak Visits Sri Lanka For Joint Naval Training, Prime Minister Internship Scheme, Aronyak Ghosh Becomes India’s 95th Grandmaster

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD MALARIA DAY 2026

Current Context: World Malaria Day 2026 is observed on April 25, 2026, highlighting accelerated efforts to eradicate the disease.

ABOUT WORLD MALARIA DAY 2026

• Theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must”
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Deploying new vaccines (R21/Matrix-M)
  • Strengthening technology (e.g., gene drives)
  • Tackling climate-driven challenges
  • 47 countries certified malaria-free
• Malaria Basics:
  • Caused by: Plasmodium parasites
  • Transmitted by: Female Anopheles mosquitoes
  • Remains a top killer of children under five
• India’s Context:Focus on eliminating malaria by 2030, 95% of population in endemic areas

IMPORTANT DAYS

2. NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ DAY 2026

Current Context: National Panchayati Raj Day 2026 is observed on April 24 across India, marking the strengthening of grassroots democracy.

ABOUT NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ DAY

• Theme 2026:“Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas”
• Commemorates:73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (came into force in 1993)
• Three-Tier Structure:
  • Gram Panchayat (village level)
  • Panchayat Samiti (block/intermediate level)
  • Zilla Parishad (district level)

ECONOMY

3. INDIA-JAPAN DATA PACT FOR AI SMART CITIES

Current Context: India and Japan have strengthened cooperation in AI and urban planning through a new data partnership between Japan’s ONESTRUCTION Inc. and India’s DataKaveri Systems.

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

• MoU Signed during:Inaugural Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue
• Platforms Integration:
  • openBIM platform (ONESTRUCTION) based on IFC global standard
  • Intelligent Universal Data Exchange (IUDX) – active in 55 Indian smart cities
• DataKaveri Systems:Commercial arm of IISc Bengaluru’s Centre of Data for Public Good
• Applications:Urban mobility, utilities, environment monitoring, public services, digital twins, AI-based planning systems

INTERNATIONAL

4. FINLAND BUILDS WORLD’S FIRST PERMANENT NUCLEAR WASTE VAULT

Current Context: Finland is preparing to operationalise the world’s first permanent underground repository for highly radioactive nuclear waste.

ABOUT ONKALO FACILITY

• Location:Olkiluoto Island, Finland
• Depth:400-450 metres below ground inside 1.9-billion-year-old stable bedrock
• Storage Duration:Up to 100,000 years
• Expected Storage:Around 6,500 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel
• Multi-Barrier Safety System:
• Metal canisters → corrosion-resistant copper capsules → bentonite clay (swells on water contact) → embedded in solid rock
• Global Context:Since 1950s, nuclear reactors worldwide have produced nearly 400,000 tonnes of spent fuel

INTERNATIONAL

5. TURKEY TIGHTENS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCESS FOR CHILDREN

Current Context: Türkiye’s Parliament has passed a new Bill aimed at restricting access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15.

ABOUT THE BILL

• Platforms Covered:YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram
• Key Requirements:Age-verification systems, parental control tools, quick response to harmful content
• Triggering Incident:School shooting in Kahramanmaras (14-year-old student killed 9 classmates and a teacher)
• Global Trend:Similar restrictions in Australia (under 16), Indonesia (under 16), Spain, France, UK

INTERNATIONAL

6. THE DRUZHBA PIPELINE

Current Context: Resumption of Russian oil flows through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline led Hungary to lift its veto on a critical 90 billion euro EU loan for Kyiv.

ABOUT DRUZHBA PIPELINE

• Meaning:“Friendship” in Russian
• Type:One of world’s longest and largest crude oil pipeline networks
• Started Operations:1964
• Length:Approximately 4,000 km
• Capacity:2-1.4 million barrels per day (can scale up to 2 million)
• Route:Originates in Almetyevsk, central Russia → Belarus → splits into:
• Northern Branch:Through Poland to Germany
• Southern Branch: Through Ukraine to Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic

DEFENCE

7. INS NIREKSHAK VISITS SRI LANKA FOR JOINT NAVAL TRAINING

Current Context: Indian Naval Ship INS Nireekshak has arrived at Colombo port in Sri Lanka for operational turnaround and training visit.

ABOUT INS NIREKSHAK

• Type:Diving support and submarine rescue vessel
• Commanded by:Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi
• Activities:
  • 4th India-Sri Lanka Joint Diving Exercise (April 21-27)
  • Humanitarian assistance: Hand over two BHISM cubes under “Aarogya Maitri” initiative (portable medical aid units)
  • Provide 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition to Sri Lankan Navy
• Part of:India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across Regions)

SCHEMES

8. PRIME MINISTER INTERNSHIP SCHEME

Current Context: The government has expanded eligibility criteria of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme to include final-year graduate and postgraduate students.

ABOUT PRIME MINISTER INTERNSHIP SCHEME

• Duration:12 months
• Age:21-25 years
• Financial Assistance:Minimum ₹9,000 per month
• Sectors:24 sectors (oil, gas, energy, travel, hospitality, automotive, banking, financial services)
• Eligibility:Passed 10th, 12th, ITI, Polytechnic, or Diploma, fresh graduates from non-premier institutions
• Family Income:Not exceed ₹12 lakh in preceding financial year
• Excluded:IIT, IIM, National Law University students; professional degree holders (CA, MBA, MBBS)
• New Change:Final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students now eligible (with NOC from institution)

SPORTS

9. ARONYAK GHOSH BECOMES INDIA’S 95TH GRANDMASTER

Current Context: Aronyak Ghosh from Kolkata, West Bengal, became India’s 95th Grandmaster after achieving his final norm at the Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Player:Aronyak Ghosh (Kolkata, West Bengal)

RECENT INDIAN GRANDMASTERS

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