Prelims Current Affairs includes Nationally Notified Disasters, World Government Summit 2026, Yuva Sahakar Scheme & Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojana, Spain Bans Social Media For Children Below 16, Cleanest Port of The Year – Swachhata Pakhwada 2025, ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award 2025, Brics Centre For Industrial Competencies (Bcic), Hakki Pikki Tribe, First Lng–Diesel Dual-Fuel Demu Train & Bharat Taxi

GEOGRAPHY

1. NATIONALLY NOTIFIED DISASTERS

Current Context: The 16th Finance Commission has recommended inclusion of heatwaves and lightning strikes in India’s list of nationally notified disasters.

ABOUT NATIONALLY NOTIFIED DISASTERS

• Legal Basis: Recognised under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• Purpose: Enables relief, response, and funding support from disaster funds.
• Funds Used:
• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
• National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)

CURRENT LIST INCLUDES

• Cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis
• Hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts
• Pest infestations, frost and cold waves

INTERNATIONAL

2. WORLD GOVERNMENT SUMMIT 2026

Current Context: The World Government Summit 2026 opened in Dubai under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.”

ABOUT WORLD GOVERNMENT SUMMIT

• Venue: Dubai
• Duration: Till 5 February 2026
• Participants: Global leaders, policymakers, business executives

Scale:

• Over 445 sessions
• More than 450 global speakers

KEY DISCUSSION AREAS

• Future of governance and public policy
• Leadership and public finance
• Investment flows and sustainability
• Role of emerging technologies in policymaking

SCHEMES

3. YUVA SAHAKAR SCHEME & SWAYAMSHAKTI SAHAKAR YOJANA

Current Context : The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is implementing Yuva Sahakar Scheme and Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojana to promote youth entrepreneurship, women empowerment, and cooperative-led sustainable livelihoods under the Ministry of Cooperation.

ABOUT NATIONAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (NCDC)

• Status: Statutory body under the Ministry of Cooperation
• Role: Financial assistance, institutional support, and capacity building for cooperatives
• Sectors Covered: Agriculture, dairy, fisheries, handloom, cottage industries, services
• Objective: Strengthen grassroots development, employment generation, and financial inclusion

ABOUT YUVA SAHAKAR SCHEME

• Target Group: Newly formed and youth-led cooperative societies
• Purpose: Promote innovation and startup culture within the cooperative framework

Key Focus Areas:

• Supporting early-stage cooperatives facing capital constraints
• Encouraging innovative, locally relevant, and sustainable business models
• Enabling youth entrepreneurs to scale operations and become self-reliant
• Funding: Fully funded and supported by NCDC

ABOUT SWAYAMSHAKTI SAHAKAR YOJANA

• Focus Group: Women, Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and economically weaker sections
• Objective: Promote financial inclusion and sustainable livelihoods through cooperatives

Key Features:

• Access to affordable and reliable bank credit
• Financial support for collective income-generating activities
• Promotion of women-led cooperative enterprises
• Outcome: Enhances women’s economic participation and leadership in cooperatives

INTERNATIONAL

4. SPAIN BANS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN BELOW 16

Current Context : Spain has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children below 16 years, becoming the first European country and second globally after Australia to take such a step.

• Announced By: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
• Platform: World Government Summit, Dubai
• Implementation: Expected within one week
• Significance: Reflects growing global concern over child safety, mental health, and digital regulation

PLACE IN NEWS

5. CLEANEST PORT OF THE YEAR – SWACHHATA PAKHWADA 2025

Current Context : The Paradip Port Authority won First Prize at the Swachhata Pakhwada Awards 2025, instituted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• Recognised as India’s cleanest-performing major port
• Evaluation based on sanitation, sustainability, community participation, and Safai Mitra welfare
• Demonstrates integration of Swachh Bharat Mission with port operations

KEY INITIATIVES AT PARADIP PORT

• Large-scale cleanliness drives and strict waste management
• Elimination of single-use plastics
• Green initiatives like Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
• Strong focus on Jan Bhagidari and worker welfare

ABOUT SWACHHATA PAKHWADA

• Flagship cleanliness campaign under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• Focus on behavioural change, waste management, and citizen participation
• Ports assessed on environmental stewardship and social responsibility

AWARDS

6. ‘SOLDIER OF HUMANITY’ AWARD 2025

Current Context : Gyalyum Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan, was conferred the 22nd Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award 2025.

ABOUT UPENDRA NATH BRAHMA ‘SOLDIER OF HUMANITY’ AWARD

• Instituted in : 2004
• By: Upendra Nath Brahma Trust
• Named After: Upendra Nath Brahma, also known as Bodofa
• Purpose: Honour individuals for exceptional contributions to humanity, peace, and inclusive development
• Core Values: Sacrifice, courage, social justice, and service to mankind

INTERNATIONAL

7. BRICS CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL COMPETENCIES (BCIC)

Current Context : India has recently joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi, strengthening cooperation among BRICS nations in industrial skills, MSME support, and Industry 4.0 capabilities.

ABOUT BRICS CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL COMPETENCIES

• Launched In Partnership With: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
• Nature: Network-driven initiative under UNIDO

Objective:

• To act as a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and MSMEs across BRICS countries
• To support industrial modernisation, MSMEs, and digital transformation
• Core Focus Area: Strengthening Industry 4.0 competencies

IMPLEMENTATION IN INDIA

• Nodal Agency: National Productivity Council (NPC)
• Role of NPC: Designated as the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies

ABOUT BRICS

• Nature: Group of major emerging economies for economic cooperation and global governance reform
• Coined By: Jim O’Neill (Goldman Sachs economist) in 2001
• First Meeting: 2006 (G8 Outreach Summit)
• First Standalone Summit: 2009, Russia
• Expansion: South Africa joined in 2010
• Aim: Strengthen South–South cooperation and amplify the voice of developing countries
• Member Countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia

GEOGRAPHY

8.      HAKKI PIKKI TRIBE

Current Context : Eight members of Karnataka’s Hakki Pikki tribal community, who had travelled to Central Africa for selling herbal products, are facing a crisis after their visas expired.

ABOUT HAKKI PIKKI TRIBE

• Location: Karnataka
• Population (2011 Census): 11,892
• Scheduled Tribe Status: Recognised as a Scheduled Tribe

ORIGIN AND IDENTITY

Meaning:

• ‘Hakki’ means bird
• ‘Pikki’ means to catch
• Traditionally known as bird catchers
• Believe descent from legendary Ranapratap Singh
• Claim Kshatriya (warrior) ancestry
• Ancestors believed to have migrated south after Mughal conflicts

LANGUAGE

• Mother Tongue: Vaagri (Indo-Aryan language)
• Daily Communication: Kannada
• UNESCO Status: Vaagri listed as an endangered language

TRADITIONAL & PRESENT OCCUPATION

• Earlier engaged in hunting and bird catching
• Shifted occupations after strict wildlife laws
• Currently involved in:
• Selling spices, flowers, Ayurvedic medicines, herbal oils
• Indigenous plant- and herb-based medicine systems
• Travel globally, especially to Africa, for selling herbal products

MISCELLANEOUS

9. FIRST LNG–DIESEL DUAL-FUEL DEMU TRAIN

Current Context: Indian Railways has launched India’s first LNG–diesel dual-fuel DEMU train at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, marking a major step towards cleaner, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly rail transport.

ABOUT LNG–DIESEL DUAL-FUEL DEMU

• Type: Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) upgraded to dual-fuel operation.
• Fuel System: Uses a combination of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel.
• Fuel Replacement: LNG replaces around 40% of conventional diesel.
• Power: Equipped with 1,400 HP driving power cars converted for dual-fuel use.
• Usage: Primarily for short-distance passenger services.

MISCELLANEOUS

10. BHARAT TAXI

Current Context : The Union Cooperation Minister will launch Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

ABOUT BHARAT TAXI

• Nature: India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform
• Legal Status: Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002
• Ministry: Ministry of Cooperation
• Technical Support: National e-Governance Division (NeGD)

KEY FEATURES OF BHARAT TAXI

• Driver-Owned Model: Drivers become shareholders and co-owners
• Zero Commission: Entire fare goes directly to the driver
• No Surge Pricing: Transparent and predictable fares
• Digital Integration: DigiLocker, UMANG, API Setu
• Security & Compliance: Adherence to Government data protection and cybersecurity norms.

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