Prelims Current Affairs includes World Tsunami Awareness Day, Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab), Gogabeel Lake, Charles Coste, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny Shortlisted for Booker Prize 2025, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Awards, Heavy Metals Pollute the Cauvery River, Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit Launched.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD TSUNAMI AWARENESS DAY

It is observed every year on 5 November.
Aim: To highlight the dangers of tsunamis and promote early warning systems and preparedness.
Developed by: United Nations General Assembly.
Theme for 2025: “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness.”

2. GURU NANAK JAYANTI (GURPURAB)

Current Context: In 2025, the festival of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is being celebrated on 5 November, marking his 556th birth anniversary.

ABOUT GURU NANAK JAYANTI

Birth and Early Life

• Born in 1469 in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan)
• Raised in a humble family and supported by his sister Bebe Nanki
• Learned multiple languages and showed spiritual depth from childhood

Key Contributions

• Founder of Sikhism and first Sikh Guru
• Stressed oneness of God (Waheguru) and equality of all
• Inspired people to reject caste system, superstitions, and empty rituals

Major Travels (Udasis)

• Undertook four major spiritual journeys between 1500–1524
• Traveled across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Himalayas, and the Middle East
• Spread message of oneness, service, unity, and truth

GEOGRAPHY

3. GOGABEEL LAKE

Current Context: Recently, Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district of Bihar has been declared a new Ramsar site, bringing India’s tally of wetlands of international importance to 94.

ABOUT GOGABEEL LAKE

Location: Katihar district, Bihar
Type: Natural ox-bow lake (meander cut-off from main river course)
Hydrology / Formation: Fed by rivers such as the Mahananda (northeast) and Ganga (south), and situated in flood-plain terrain of the trans-Gangetic plains.

Area / Legal Status:

• Notified on 2 August 2019 as Bihar’s first Community Reserve (57 ha) and Conservation Reserve (30 ha) for Gogabeel.
• Recognised for its bird-habitat importance (Important Bird Area).

Biodiversity Significance:

• Permanent water body, though shrinks in summer but does not dry completely.
• Supports over 90 bird species, including around 30 migratory species.

Community Involvement:
Local communities are engaged in declaring it a community reserve, with non-profit groups aiding awareness and conservation initiatives.

PERSON IN NEWS

4. CHARLES COSTE

Current Context: Recently, Charles Coste, the French Olympic champion and the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medallist, has died at the age of 101.

ABOUT CHARLES COSTE

Full Name: Charles Gustave Léonce Coste
Birth Date / Place: 8 February 1924, Ollioules, Var, France
Sport: Cycling – both track (velodrome) and road

Major Achievements:

• Won gold medal in the team pursuit event at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, as part of the French team (with Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson, Fernand Decanali).
• In 1949, won the Grand Prix des Nations (a 140-km time trial) defeating the legendary Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi.
• Participated in major road events such as the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, though without major podium finishes.

PRIZE

5. THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY SHORTLISTED FOR BOOKER PRIZE 2025

Current Context: Indian-born author Kiran Desai’s novel “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025, marking her major return to global literary recognition after nearly two decades.

ABOUT THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY 

Author: Kiran Desai

• Indian-born novelist, currently residing in the United States
• Daughter of noted novelist Anita Desai

Significance: Marks Desai’s return to major awards after her earlier Booker-winning novel “The Inheritance of Loss” (2006).

AWARDS

6. DR. BHUPEN HAZARIKA NATIONAL AWARDS

Current Context: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia presented the Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Awards in Guwahati to honour Northeast cultural icons as part of the music legend’s 100th birth anniversary celebrations.

ABOUT THE AWARD & EVENT

Purpose: To honour individuals preserving and promoting Northeast Indian culture & arts

About Bhupen Hazarika:

• Known as Bhupen Da
• Legendary singer, composer, poet, and filmmaker
• Voice of Northeast India’s cultural and social identity
• Promoted unity, empathy, and cultural harmony through his art
  
  

  MISC

7. HEAVY METALS POLLUTE THE CAUVERY RIVER

Current Context: Researchers from Tamil Nadu reported alarming levels of heavy metal pollution in the Cauvery River and its fish species, raising public health and ecological concerns.

ABOUT HEAVY METALS

Meaning: Metals with high density that are toxic at low concentrations
Examples: Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Thallium (Tl)
Sources: Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, wastewater, sewage, and atmospheric deposition

Health Concerns:

• Bioaccumulation in living organisms
• Affects nervous system, kidneys, and immunity
• Can contaminate drinking water, food chain, and fish

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

8. INTEGRATED SOHRA TOURISM CIRCUIT LAUNCHED

Current Context: The Union Minister for DoNER laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Circuit Development in Meghalaya under the PM-DevINE scheme, to boost sustainable tourism in Sohra (Cherrapunji).

ABOUT INTEGRATED SOHRA TOURISM CIRCUIT

Developed By: Ministry of DoNER & Government of Meghalaya
Objective:

• To create a sustainable and experiential tourism hub
• Promote local livelihood and eco-tourism

Key Features: Sohra Experience Centre showcasing tribal culture

ABOUT PM-DevINE SCHEME

Launched: 2022
Type: Central Sector scheme (100% central funding)
Outlay: ₹6,600 crore (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Objectives:

• Infrastructure development in North-East
• Social development projects
• Support youth and women livelihoods
• Reduce regional development gaps

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