Prelims Current Affairs includes World Braille Day, National Bird Day, Rani Velu Nachiyar, Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococci, Access and Benefit Sharing (Abs), India–Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement, Pragati – 50th Meeting Chaired by Prime Minister and New Chief Justices Appointed to Three High Courts

IMPORTANT DAY

1.  WORLD BRAILLE DAY

Observed every year on 4 January

• Aim : to raise awareness about the Braille writing system and promote the rights and inclusion of visually impaired people.
• Purpose: Raises awareness about Braille and its importance for the education and empowerment of blind and partially sighted individuals.

ABOUT LOUIS BRAILLE

• Born: 4 January 1809
• Contribution: Invented the Braille tactile writing system

IMPORTANT DAY

2. NATIONAL BIRD DAY

• Observed every year on 5 January.
• Aim : to spread awareness about the importance of birds and their role in maintaining ecological balance.

HISTORY

3. RANI VELU NACHIYAR

Current Context: The Prime Minister of India paid tributes to Rani Velu Nachiyar on her birth anniversary, remembering her role in India’s early resistance against British rule.

ABOUT RANI VELU NACHIYAR

• Period: 1730–1796
• Region: Queen of Sivaganga in present-day Tamil Nadu
• Also Known As: Veeramangai

FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE

• Father: Raja Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram
• Marriage: Married Muthuvadugananthur Udaiyathevar at the age of 16

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

• Allied with Hyder Ali of Mysore and Gopala Nayaker
• Built a strong army including a women’s battalion named “Udaiyaal”

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• First Indian queen to fight against British colonial rule
• Her commander Kuyili is regarded as India’s first woman martyr
• Granted administrative powers to the Marudu brothers in 1780

SCHEME

4. ELECTRONICS COMPONENT MANUFACTURING SCHEME (ECMS)

Current Context: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology approved 22 proposals under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme.

ABOUT ECMS

• Notified: April 2025
• Total Outlay: ₹22,919 crore
• Tenure: Six years with optional one-year gestation

OBJECTIVE

• To build a robust electronics component manufacturing ecosystem
• To integrate India’s electronics industry with Global Value Chains

TARGET SEGMENTS

• Segment A: Sub-assemblies (Display, Camera modules)
• Segment B: Bare components (PCBs, Li-ion cells, electro-mechanicals)
• Segment C: Selected bare components (HDI, Flexible PCBs)
• Segment D: Supply chain ecosystem and capital equipment
• Segment E: Telecom sub-assemblies

INCENTIVE STRUCTURE

• Turnover-linked incentive: Segments A, B and E
• Capital expenditure incentive: Segment D
• Hybrid incentive: Segment C

INDIA’S ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

• Production grew from ₹1.9 lakh crore (2014–15) to ₹11.3 lakh crore (2024–25)
• India is the second largest mobile phone manufacturer
• Electronics is India’s third largest export category
• Vision of a $500 billion electronics ecosystem by 2030–31

ENVIRONMENT

5. ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI

Current Context: Researchers detected high levels of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci in indoor and outdoor environments in parts of Delhi.

ABOUT STAPHYLOCOCCUS

• Type: Gram-positive cocci bacteria
• Shape: Spherical, occurring in clusters
• Discovery: First observed in humans by Von Recklinghausen

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

• Shows tolerance to penicillin
• Resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline and aminoglycosides

TYPES

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Staphylococcus epidermidis

GEOGRAPHY

6. ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING (ABS)

Current Context: National Biodiversity Authority disbursed ₹45 lakh to red sanders farmers of Andhra Pradesh under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework.

ABOUT RED SANDERS

• Indian endemic tree species
• Found in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh
• IUCN Status: Endangered

ABOUT ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING

• Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992
• Strengthened by the Nagoya Protocol, 2010

LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN INDIA

• Governed by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• Implemented through 2025 ABS Regulations
• OBJECTIVE : Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

INTERNATIONAL

7. INDIA–PAKISTAN NON-ATTACK AGREEMENT

Current Context: India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations under the India–Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement.

ABOUT THE AGREEMENT

• Signed: 31 December 1988
• Entered into Force: 27 January 1991
• KEY PROVISION : Exchange of information on nuclear installations every year on 1 January

AIM

• To prevent attacks on nuclear installations and facilities
• To avoid direct or indirect damage to nuclear infrastructure

SIGNIFICANCE

• Important confidence-building measure
• Helps reduce nuclear risk between India and Pakistan

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

8. PRAGATI – 50TH MEETING CHAIRED BY PRIME MINISTER

Current Context: The Prime Minister chaired the 50^th meeting of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), highlighting its role in fast-tracking major projects and welfare schemes.

ABOUT PRAGATI

• Launched: 2015
• Nature: Technology-enabled governance platform
• Structure: Three-tier system

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

• Prime Minister’s Office
• Union Government Secretaries
• Chief Secretaries of States

OBJECTIVES

• Programme Implementation: Improved coordination among agencies
• Project Monitoring: Real-time tracking through digital platforms
• Grievance Redressal: Integration with CPGRAMS

SIGNIFICANCE

• Accelerates implementation of mega infrastructure projects
• Improves accountability and inter-governmental coordination

APPOINTMENT

9. NEW CHIEF JUSTICES APPOINTED TO THREE HIGH COURTS

Current Context: The Union Government approved the appointment and transfer of Chief Justices of Kerala, Patna and Meghalaya High Courts based on recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium.

CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS

• Article 217: Appointment of High Court Judges and Chief Justices
• Article 222: Transfer of High Court Judges

KERALA HIGH COURT

• Appointee: Justice Soumen Sen
• Previous Position: Chief Justice, Meghalaya High Court
• Assumption of Office: After retirement of Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar on 9 January 2026

PATNA HIGH COURT

• Appointee: Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo
• Current Position: Judge, Orissa High Court

MEGHALAYA HIGH COURT

• Appointee: Justice Revati Prashant Mohite Dere
• Current Position: Judge, Bombay High Court

ROLE OF SUPREME COURT COLLEGIUM

• Headed by Justice Surya Kant
• Recommended appointments on 18 December 2025
• Ensures judicial independence and merit-based elevation

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