Prelims Current Affairs includes World Rivers Day 2026, S Jaishankar Signs Un Convention Against Cybercrime, Centre Notifies Kandla, Jnpa, Paradip And Mundra As Mega Ports, Oxford Global Cities Index 2026, Icgs Shaunak, India Women’s Kabaddi Team Wins Asian Games Gold & Mandeep K Bhandari Appointed New Cbse Chairperson

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD RIVERS DAY 2026

Current Context: World Rivers Day 2026 is observed on 27 September 2026, the fourth Sunday of September, to highlight the ecological, economic, social and cultural importance of rivers and promote their conservation.

ABOUT WORLD RIVERS DAY

• First Observed:2005
• Theme 2026:“No Forests, No Rivers, No Water, No Life”
• Purpose:Global environmental awareness day highlighting the importance of rivers and the need to protect them

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. S JAISHANKAR SIGNS UN CONVENTION AGAINST CYBERCRIME

Current Context: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on 25 September 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA).

ABOUT THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST CYBERCRIME

• Official title: United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes.
• The Convention is the first comprehensive global treaty specifically dealing with cybercrime and aims to strengthen international cooperation in preventing and investigating cybercrime and sharing electronic evidence.
• Adoption date: 24 December 2024
• Opened for signature: 25 October 2025, Hanoi, Vietnam
• India signed: 25 September 2026, New York
• Status: As of 25 September 2026, the Convention had not yet entered into force.

Key Features:

• Common international approach to combating ICT-related crimes
• Standards for gathering, exchange, and use of digital evidence
• Creates 24/7 network for swift cooperation
• Covers extradition and recovery of proceeds of crime

ECONOMY/INFRASTRUCTURE

3. CENTRE NOTIFIES KANDLA, JNPA, PARADIP AND MUNDRA AS MEGA PORTS

Current Context: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways notified four ports as mega ports on 25 September 2026.

WHAT IS A MEGA PORT?

• A Mega Port is a port that satisfies the criteria prescribed by the Central Government under Section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025.
• The classification recognises ports with very large-scale infrastructure and operational capabilities and is aimed at strengthening India’s major maritime trade gateways.
• The four ports were found to satisfy the notified criteria.

FOUR NEW MEGA PORTS

• Deendayal Port (Kandla): Gujarat, on the western coast.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA): Maharashtra, near Mumbai, a major container port.
• Paradip Port: Odisha, on the eastern coast, an important bulk cargo and mineral-handling port.
• Mundra Port: Gujarat, a non-major port, operated by Adani Ports, and one of India’s major commercial cargo gateways.

Key Highlights:

• Mundra is the only port classified as “other port” prior to mega port classification
• Paradip is the only mega port on the eastern coast
• Validity:Five years from notification, re-evaluated after five years

REPORTS/INDICES

4. OXFORD GLOBAL CITIES INDEX 2026

Current Context: Delhi ranked 268th among 1,000 cities in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026, making it the highest-ranked Indian city in the index.

ABOUT OXFORD ECONOMICS GLOBAL CITIES INDEX

• The Global Cities Index is published by Oxford Economics, a global economic forecasting and research organisation.
• It ranks 1,000 major cities worldwide and assesses their present strengths as well as future potential.
• Unlike a ranking based only on GDP, it uses five broad categories to provide a holistic assessment.

FIVE CATEGORIES

• Economics: GDP size, GDP growth, GDP per capita, employment growth and economic diversity.
• Human Capital: education, skills, workforce strength and labour-market characteristics.
• Quality of Life: wellbeing, liveability and access to amenities.
• Environment: environmental quality and sustainability.
• Governance: institutional strength and civic effectiveness.
• Each category is scored on a 0-100 scale, and the five categories are combined to produce the overall city score.

DELHI’S PERFORMANCE

• Global rank: 268th out of 1,000.
• Delhi performs particularly strongly in Human Capital, where it ranks 13th globally, according to reporting based on the 2026 index.

OTHER INDIAN CITIES

• Delhi: 268th
• Bengaluru: 311th
• Mumbai: 330th
• Chennai: 381st
• Hyderabad: 421st
• Pune: 427th
• The 2026 index includes 91 Indian cities among the 1,000 cities assessed.

Top Global Cities:

DEFENCE

5. ICGS SHAUNAK

Current Context: ICGS Shaunak sailed from Chennai for Perth, Australia, as part of QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission.

QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission:

• Brings together personnel from India, USA, Japan, Australia
• Six officers (Sea Riders): 2 from India, 2 from Japan, 1 each from Australia and USA
• Aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen mutual trust
• Reflects India’s maritime vision of MAHASAGAR

SPORTS

6. INDIA WOMEN’S KABADDI TEAM WINS ASIAN GAMES GOLD

Current Context: Indian women’s kabaddi team won gold at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on 26 September 2026.

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Final Score:India 37 – Iran 34
• Venue:Tokai Citizens Gymnasium
• Medal:Gold (4th Asian Games gold in women’s kabaddi)

India’s Record in Women’s Kabaddi:

Key Players:

• India Captain:Pushpa Rana
• Iran Captain:Zahra Karimi
• Indian Squad:Pooja, Sanju Devi, Nikita Hathwala, Pushpa Rana

APPOINTMENTS

7. MANDEEP K BHANDARI APPOINTED NEW CBSE CHAIRPERSON

Current Context: Centre appointed Mandeep K Bhandari as CBSE Chairperson in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Appointed by:Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
• About CBSE: Central Board of Secondary Education
• Type:National level educational institution
• Established:1929 (as joint Board for Rajputana, Central India and Gwalior)
• Renamed:1952
• Reconstructed:1 July 1962

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