Prelims Current Affairs includes International Translation Day, Prahaar And Extradition Portal, Kandla E-Methanol Facility, Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, Trinidad And Tobago To Adopt Upi, Typhoon Dujuan & Exercise Kazind-2026

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION DAY

Current Context: International Translation Day is observed annually on 30 September.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION DAY

• Established in: 2017 through UN General Assembly Resolution, adopted on 24 May 2017.
• Purpose: To recognise the importance of professional translation and the work of language professionals in promoting international communication, peace, understanding and development.
• Date significance: 30 September celebrates the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator and patron saint of translators.
• Jerome translated most of the Bible into Latin from Greek manuscripts and died near Bethlehem on 30 September 420.

INTERNAL SECURITY

2. PRAHAAR AND EXTRADITION PORTAL

Current Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the new Extradition Portal in New Delhi during the conference on “PRAHAAR – National CT Policy and Strategy”. The portal aims to improve coordination among agencies and expedite the return of fugitives from abroad.

ABOUT PRAHAAR – NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICY AND STRATEGY

• India has brought back 288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

ABOUT PRAHAAR

• PRAHAAR is India’s National Counterterrorism Policy and Strategy, unveiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs in February 2026.
• It provides a multi-layered and coordinated framework for preventing, responding to and investigating terrorism.

ABOUT THE EXTRADITION PORTAL

• Extradition is the formal process through which one country requests another country to surrender a person accused or convicted of a crime so that the person can face criminal proceedings or punishment.
• The new portal is designed to bring together and streamline India’s extradition efforts to secure the return of fugitives located abroad.
• It seeks to improve coordination among the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), CBI and State Police agencies.

ECONOMY / INFRASTRUCTURE

3. KANDLA E-METHANOL FACILITY

Current Context: Kandla is developing India’s first port-based e-methanol facility with a planned capacity of 150 tonnes per day (TPD) to support green shipping and alternative marine fuels.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Capacity: 150 tonnes per day (TPD).
• Partners: Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. (APCL).

WHAT IS E-METHANOL?

• E-methanol, also called electro-methanol, is a synthetic fuel produced using green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, with renewable electricity used in the production process.

REPORTS / INDICES

4. TRAVEL & TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX 2026

Current Context: The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2026 on 25 September 2026, ranking 110 economies on the conditions and policies that support sustainable and resilient travel and tourism development.

ABOUT TTDI

• India ranked 31st, improving by 9 places from its 2024 position of 39th. The improvement was supported by tourism infrastructure, cultural resources, business travel facilities, natural attractions and cost competitiveness.
• Frequency: Biennial, released every two years.
• 2026 Edition: 10th edition of the index.
• The TTDI evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which was published from 2007 to 2019.

KEY FINDINGS OF TTDI 2026

• Japan ranked 1st, followed by the United States, Spain, Australia and France.
• India ranks among top 10 economies for number of World Heritage cultural sites.
• International tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2025, 4.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

5. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO ADOPT UPI

Current Context: Trinidad and Tobago is set to become the first Caribbean nation to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a real-time digital payments system developed by NPCI.

KEY DETAILS

• Agreement signed on 10 September 2024; official exchange ceremony on 26 September 2024.
• Trinidad and Tobago will retain full ownership and control of the platform; India will provide technical assistance.
• ABOUT UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
• Developed by: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Launched: 2016.

• UPI is a real-time digital payment system that enables instant bank-to-bank payments through mobile applications.

GEOGRAPHY

6. TYPHOON DUJUAN

Current Context: Typhoon Dujuan battered Tokyo and eastern Japan with torrential rainfall and damaging winds, dumping a record-breaking 832 mm of rain on Izu Oshima island within 48 hours.

ABOUT TYPHOON DUJUAN

• A powerful tropical cyclone formed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
• Designated as Japan’s 25th named storm of the season.
• Maximum sustained winds: 130 km/h, peak gusts: 194 km/h.
• Name “Dujuan” contributed by China, refers to the azalea flower.

DEFENCE

7. EXERCISE KAZIND-2026

Current Context: India and Kazakhstan are conducting the ninth edition of their joint military exercise, KAZIND-2026, from 28 September to 11 October 2026 in Oskemen, Kazakhstan.

ABOUT KAZIND-2026

• Bilateral military exercise between India and Kazakhstan.
• Focus: Counter-terrorism operations in sub-conventional environment under UN mandate.
• Indian contingent: 60 personnel, mainly from Garhwal Rifles and Indian Air Force.

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