Prelims Current Affairs includes World Day Against Trafficking In Persons 2026, Venezuela Withdraws From International Criminal Court (ICC), Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY), Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, Dweepti Yojana – Chhattisgarh’s Women-Led Renewable Energy Policy, Sheta2 Therapy For Cervical Cancer, Pithora Painting Receives Gi Tag , Fields Medal 2026 & Alfa Programme For Foundational Literacy And Numeracy In Himachal Pradesh

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 2026

Current Context: World Day against Trafficking in Persons is observed on 30 July to raise awareness about human trafficking and its impact.

ABOUT THE DAY

• Established By: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In 2013 through resolution.BV
• Purpose: To combat human trafficking, support victims, and promote international cooperation against trafficking networks.
• Theme 2026:“Trapped Behind the Scam”
• Focus:Human trafficking for forced criminality within online scam operations

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. VENEZUELA WITHDRAWS FROM INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

Current Context: Venezuela has formally notified the United Nations of its irrevocable decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) by denouncing the Rome Statute.

ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL

• Venezuela alleged that the Court is politically biased and disproportionately targets countries in the Global South, particularly in Africa and Latin America.
• The decision comes while the ICC is investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela since 2017.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands.
• Established By: Rome Statute Founding Treaty (1998). In 2002 Rome Statute entered into force.
• Jurisdiction:Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, crime of aggression
• Key Points:
• Withdrawal effective:One year after formal notification (Article 127 of Rome Statute)

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

3. ATAL BEEMIT VYAKTI KALYAN YOJANA (ABVKY)

Current Context: ESIC approved extension of ABVKY from 01.07.2026 to 30.06.2027.

ABOUT ABVKY

• The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved the extension of Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) for another year, from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, to provide unemployment allowance and financial support to insured workers who lose their jobs.
• Launched: 1 July 2018.
• Implemented By: Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). Under Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Benefits:

• 50% of average daily earnings during previous four contribution periods
• Maximum: 90 days of unemployment (once in lifetime)

Eligibility:

• Covered under Section 2(9) of ESI Act, 1948
• Must be unemployed during claim period
• Worked in insurable employment for at least 2 years
• Contribution ≥78 days during each of four contribution periods
• Aadhaar and bank account linked
• ABOUT ESIC (Employees’ State Insurance Corporation)
• Established: 1952 under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.
• Ministry: Ministry of Labour and Employment.

SCHEMES/PROGRAMMES

4. ATMANIRBHAR PANCHAYAT PROGRAMME

Current Context: The Union Minister of Panchayati Raj launched the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme along with the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

ABOUT ATMANIRBHAR PANCHAYAT PROGRAMME

• Objective: Build financially empowered, digitally enabled, and self-reliant Panchayats capable of delivering effective local governance.
• Coverage: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across India.
• Under:Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
• Aim:Build sustainable Own Sources of Revenue (OSR) for Panchayati Raj Institutions

Key Features:

• Target:350 projects over 4 years (50 in Year 1, 100 each in Years 2,3,4)
• Eligibility:GP with OSR ≥₹50 lakh; BP with OSR ≥₹1 crore
• Financing:Blended finance (PPP, CSR, scheme convergence, bank credit)

SAMARTH Panchayat Portal:

• Digital platform launched alongside the programme.
• Provides capacity-building resources for Panchayat representatives and officials.
• Offers online learning, training modules, guidelines, and best practices.
• Facilitates knowledge sharing and performance improvement among Panchayats.
• Active in:Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh
• ABOUT RGSA (Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan)
• Launched: 2018.
• Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
• Focus: Capacity building and strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

STATE NEWS

5. DWEEPTI YOJANA – CHHATTISGARH’S WOMEN-LED RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY

Current Context: Chhattisgarh has launched the DWEEPTI Yojana, becoming the first Indian state to adopt a women-led distributed renewable energy policy.

ABOUT DWEEPTI YOJANA

• The initiative aims to empower rural women as clean energy entrepreneurs while accelerating the adoption of decentralized renewable energy across the state.
• Full Form:Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion

Key Features:

• Trains SHG members as Solar Didis(solar vendors, technicians, installers)
• Integration with PM Surya Ghar Yojana:CLFs registered as authorized vendors
• Affordable financing for rooftop solar installations

HEALTH

6. SHETA2 THERAPY FOR CERVICAL CANCER

Current Context: New cervical cancer SHetA2 pill showed promise by stopping HPV from turning cancerous.

ABOUT SHETA2 THERAPY

• SHetA2 is a promising first-in-class anti-HPV therapeutic being developed as an oral drug for the treatment of cervical precancer (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia – CIN) and cervical cancer.
• In 2026, ICMR licensed the technology to Emcure Pharmaceuticals for further clinical development in India.
• Full Name: SHetA2 (Synthetic Flexible Heteroarotinoid).
• Type: Investigational small-molecule anti-cancer drug.
• Developed By: Scientists from ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) and the University of Oklahoma (USA).
• Current Status: Investigational drug undergoing clinical development, not yet approved for routine clinical use.

HOW SHetA2 WORKS

• Targets high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cells.
• Disrupts interactions involving Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) family proteins such as mortalin (HSPA9), Hsc70, and Grp78.
• Blocks the activity of HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins, which are responsible for transforming normal cervical cells into cancer cells.
• Promotes selective death of abnormal or cancerous cells while largely sparing healthy cells.

About HPV:

• Most common sexually transmitted infection (100+ types)
• Some types cause warts, some cause cancer
• Transmission:Skin-to-skin contact, sexual contact
• Prevention:HPV vaccination (most effective way). No cure for HPV

ART & CULTURE

7. PITHORA PAINTING RECEIVES GI TAG

Current Context: Pithora Painting, the sacred tribal mural art of Gujarat, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

ABOUT PITHORA PAINTING

• Traditional ritualistic mural painting of the Rathwa, Bhil, Bhilala, and Nayaka tribal communities.
• Practised mainly in Chhota Udepur, Vadodara, and Panchmahal districts of Gujarat.
• Created on the walls of houses during religious ceremonies and thanksgiving rituals.
• Dedicated to Baba Pithora, the tribal deity associated with prosperity and well-being.
• Type:Traditional tribal wall art
• Dating back:13th century
• Artistic Features:
• Artists:Lakharas (ritual specialist painters) under priest called Badwa
• Surface:Cow dung and clay mixture
• Colors:Natural pigments (minerals, plants)
• Tools:Bamboo sticks, cotton, wooden stencils
• Themes:Tribal and Hindu deities, horses, animals, farming, hunting, dancing

AWARDS & HONOURS

8. FIELDS MEDAL 2026

Current Context: Fields Medal 2026 awarded to Hong Wang, Yu Deng, John Pardon, and Jacob Tsimerman.

ABOUT FIELDS MEDAL

• The Fields Medal 2026, regarded as the highest honour in mathematics, was awarded by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) held in Philadelphia, USA. Four mathematicians were honoured for their outstanding contributions to diverse fields of mathematics.
• Known as:“Nobel Prize of Mathematics”
• Frequency:Every four years
• Eligibility:Mathematicians under 40 years of age
• Presented at:International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)

Fields Medal 2026 Winners:

Himachal News

9. ALFA PROGRAMME FOR FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Current Context: Himachal Pradesh Government decided to implement the Accelerating Learning for All (ALfA) programme across the state to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy among schoolchildren.

ABOUT THE ALFA PROGRAMME

• MoU Signed Between:Himachal Pradesh Government and Dignity Education Vision International (DEVI) Sansthan, Lucknow
• Purpose:Strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) among schoolchildren
• Pilot Project:Implemented in selected education blocks of Solan and Shimla districts (encouraging results)

Key Features:

• Structured teaching package for rapid development of children’s foundational reading, writing, and mathematical skills
• Focus on age-appropriate FLN skills before grade-level competencies
• Aligned with NEP 2020 (joyful, activity-based, play-based learning)

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