Prelims Current Affairs includes Worlds Coconut Day, 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0, 280 MW Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand, Mela Patt Festival, Vrindavani Vastra and Purple Notice.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD COCONUT DAY

Observed on 2nd September every year

• Aim: to raise awareness about the importance of coconut in poverty reduction, livelihood support, and sustainable development.

• Established by: Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC)

• First Observed: 2009

AWARD

2. RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD 2025

Current Context: An Indian non-profit organisation, Foundation to Educate Girls Globally (Educate Girls), has been named a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee.

About Foundation to Educate Girls Globally

• Founded: 2007 by Safeena Husain

• Mission: “One girl at a time” – ensuring girls’ education in rural, disadvantaged areas.

• Initiatives:

  • Development Impact Bond (2015) – world’s first in education, benefiting 2 million girls in 30,000 villages.

  • Pragati Open Schooling Program – helps women aged 15–29 continue education (expanded from 300 to 31,500 participants).

About Ramon Magsaysay Award

• Established: 1958 (named after former Philippines President Ramon Magsaysay)

• Objective: Honors individuals/organizations showing transformative leadership, service, and courage in Asia.

• Award Ceremony: 7th November 2025, Manila.

• Categories (till 2008): Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism & Literature, Peace & International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership.

• Post 2009: Only Emergent Leadership remains category-specific.

DEFENCE

3. EXERCISE YUDH KAUSHAL 3.0

Current Context: The Indian Army conducted Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in the high-altitude Kameng region of Arunachal Pradesh.

About the Exercise

• Location: Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh

• Features:

  • Multi-domain operations with drone surveillance, real-time target acquisition, and precision strikes.

  • Showcased ASHNI Platoons (newly raised, tech-enabled units).

  • Active involvement of Indian Civil Defence Industry, reflecting India’s “Decade of Transformation.”

• Significance: Validated Army’s readiness in high-altitude operations, integrating next-generation technology and indigenous defence industry.

MISC

4. DHAULIGANGA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Current Context: Recently, 19 workers and officials were rescued after being trapped for 22 hours inside the tunnel of the 280 MW Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand.

About Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Project

• Capacity: 280 MW

• Location: Dharchula, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand

• River: Built on the Dhauliganga River, a tributary of the Alaknanda (Ganga basin).

• Construction started: 2000

• Commercial operation: 2005

• Owned by: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)

• Type: Run-of-the-river project

• Dam Structure:

  • 56 m high, 315 m long, concrete-faced rock-fill dam

  • Reservoir capacity: 6.2 million cubic meters

  • Gross head: 310 m | Net head: 297 m

5. VRINDAVANI VASTRA

Current Context: Assam is likely to receive the 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra from the British Museum in 2027 for exhibition.

About Vrindavani Vastra

• Nature: Silk textile woven in Assam.

• Depictions: Illustrates stories of Lord Krishna’s childhood and pastimes in Vrindavan.

• Patronage:

  • Created under Srimanta Sankardeva at the request of Koch king Nara Narayan.

  • Sankardeva took refuge under Nara Narayan after facing opposition from the Ahom kingdom.

• Journey: Travelled from Assam to Tibet; acquired by British Museum in 1904.

• Features: Originally 15 separate silk drapes, now a 9.5-metre-long masterpiece.

CULTURE

6. MELA PATT FESTIVAL

Current Context: Recently, the annual three-day Mela Patt festival began in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

About Mela Patt Festival

• Deity: Dedicated to Lord Vasuki Nag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah Valley.

• History:

  • Rooted in Nag culture, linked to the historic meeting between Mughal Emperor Akbar and King Nag Pal of Bhaderwah.

  • First celebrated in the 16th century when Bhaderwah was known as Bhadarkashi.

• Occasion: Observed every year on Nag Panchami, seven days after the Kailash Yatra.

• Cultural Features:

  • Dikko Dance: Folk dance symbolizing peace, pride, and communal harmony.

  • Dhakku Dance: Traditional Dogra folk dance with cultural significance.

ORGANISATION

7. PURPLE NOTICE

Current Context: The Enforcement Directorate secured an Interpol Purple Notice on trade-based money laundering modus operandi.

About Purple Notice

• Purpose: Provides information on modus operandi, devices, and concealment methods used by criminals.

• Difference: Unlike Red Notices (individuals), Purple Notices target practices and tools.

• Other Interpol Notices: Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, Green, Orange, Silver (pilot phase).

About Interpol

• Founded: 1923

• Members: 196 countries

• Headquarters: Lyon, France

• UN Status: Permanent Observer at UN since 1996 (not under UN)

• Functions:

  • Information-sharing network for international police cooperation.

  • Tackles crimes like terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking.

  • Issues colour-coded notices in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

  • Maintains centralized criminal databases (fingerprints, DNA, stolen documents).

8. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (NDMA)

Current Context: Prime Minister nominated two new members and renominated three existing members to NDMA for 3 years.

• Nominated members—scientist Dinesh Kumar Aswal and disaster recovery specialist Rita Missal

About NDMA

• Chairperson: Prime Minister of India

• Legal Framework: Established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005

• Headquarters: NDMA Bhavan, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi

• Structure: Includes a Vice-Chairperson (Cabinet rank) and up to eight Members (MoS rank)

• Mandate: Formulates the National Disaster Management Plan, issues guidelines, coordinates efforts across ministries and states, and administers the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).

GEOGRAPHY

9. RANJIT SAGAR DAM (THEIN DAM)

Current Context: Indian Army evacuated CRPF personnel and civilians after heavy discharge from Ranjit Sagar Dam caused floods near Madhopur Headworks.

About Ranjit Sagar Dam

• Also Known As: Thein Dam

• Location: Near Pathankot, Punjab–Jammu & Kashmir border.

• River: Built on the Ravi River.

• Purpose: Provides irrigation and hydroelectric power to Punjab and neighbouring states.

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