Prelims Current Affairs includes Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to set up a Space City, International Literacy Day 2025, Disaster Relief (HADR) operations under Operation Rahat, Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) 2025, 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Greece and Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched Anokhi Duniya.

STATE IN NEWS

1. ANDHRA PRADESH TO BUILD SPACE CITY & DEFENCE HUBS

Current Context: The Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to set up a Space City in Tirupati with Skyroot Aerospace, and two Defence Manufacturing Hubs in Madakasira, with a total investment of ₹3,400 crore.

SPACE CITY – TIRUPATI

• Partner: Skyroot Aerospace (Hyderabad-based startup founded by ex-ISRO scientists).

• Investment: ₹400 crore.

• Focus Areas:

  • Private satellite launches

  • Development of low-cost small launch vehicles

• Location Advantage: Tirupati already hosts ISRO’s Propulsion Complex → natural choice for integrated launch facilities.

DEFENCE HUBS – MADAKASIRA

• Total Investment: ₹3,000 crore.

• Focus Areas:

  • Aerospace components, defence electronics, and weapon systems

  • Integration with India’s Defence Corridor projects

• Benefits:

  • Thousands of jobs for local youth.

  • Partnership opportunities with Indian MSMEs and global defence manufacturers.

REPORT

2. INDIA’S LITERACY RATE RISES TO 80.9% (2023–24)

Current Context: On International Literacy Day 2025, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that India’s literacy rate rose from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023–24 driven by ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

About ULLAS – NAV BHARAT SAAKSHARTA KARYAKRAM

• Enrolled: 3 crore+ learners.

• Volunteers Mobilized: 42 lakh+.

• Assessment: 1.83 crore learners tested in basic literacy & numeracy.

• Pass Rate: 90%.

• Languages: Learning content in 26 Indian languages for inclusivity.

Full Literacy Regions

• Union Territory: Ladakh (declared fully literate on 24 June 2024).

• States: Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh.

About ULLAS

• Full Form: Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society.

• Launched By: Ministry of Education, Government of India.

• Year: 2023.

• Coverage: Nationwide scheme.

Objectives

• To create opportunities for lifelong learning among all age groups.

• To promote basic literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy for adults (15 years and above).

• To provide vocational skills, financial literacy, and healthcare awareness.

• To enhance critical life skills including cultural values, environmental awareness, and citizenship duties.

Imp. Fact: International Literacy Day was observed on 08 September under theme Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.

• Himachal Pradesh is now the fourth fully literate state in India, with a 99.3% literacy rate (higher than the national benchmark of 95%). Himachal joins Mizoram, Tripura, and Goa on the list.

DEFENCE

3. OPERATION RAHAT

Current Context: The Indian Army’s Western Command is conducting large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations under Operation Rahat in flood-hit Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Scale of Relief Operations

• People Rescued: 6,000+

• Medical Aid: 13,000 treated

• Supplies Delivered: 48 tons (food, medicines, water)

• Missions Conducted: 82 HADR missions using 59 Army columns (including 17 Engineer Task Forces)

Aviation Assets Used

• Helicopters:

  • 3 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH)

  • 6 MI-17s

  • 6 Cheetahs

  • 1 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter

• Role: Evacuation, supply drops, airlifting patients, monitoring flood areas.

4. COMBINED COMMANDERS’ CONFERENCE (CCC) 2025

Current Context: The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) 2025 in Kolkata, West Bengal, from 15–17 September 2025.

About CCC

• Nature: Apex-level brainstorming forum of the Armed Forces.

• Purpose: Brings together civil and military leadership to discuss conceptual and strategic matters.

• Theme 2025: “Year of Reforms – Transforming for the Future”

• Focus Areas:

  • Reforms, Transformation, and Change

  • Operational Preparedness

  • Deeper integration and technological modernisation

• Participation: PM, Defence Minister, NSA, MoS Defence, CDS, Defence Secretary, Chiefs of Services.

• Special Feature: Interactive sessions with officers of various ranks → field-level perspectives included.

PLACE IN NEWS

5. EVIA ISLAND (GREECE)

Current Context: Recently, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Greece, with its epicentre near Athens on Evia Island.

About Evia Island

• Also Called: Euboea

• Size: 2nd largest island in Greece (after Crete), 3rd largest in Europe (after Crete and Cyprus).

• Area: ~3,500 sq. km.

• Location: Central Greece, Aegean Sea.

• Separation: From mainland Greece by Euboean Strait.

• Capital/City: Halkida – administrative and commercial hub.

  • Known for Euripus Strait tidal currents, which change direction several times daily.

• Geography: Alpine mountains (Dyrfi, Kandili, Ohi), lush forests, wetlands, beaches.

• Climate: Mediterranean – mild rainy winters, hot sunny summers.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

6. ANOKHI DUNIYA – WORLD’S FIRST CERAMIC WASTE PARK

Current Context: The Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched Anokhi Duniya, the world’s first park made entirely from ceramic waste, located in Khurja, Bulandshahr.

Project Overview

• Model: Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

• Area: 2 acres.

• Material Used: 80 tonnes of discarded ceramic waste.

• ODOP Link: Part of One District One Product (ODOP) scheme → promotes Khurja’s ceramic identity.

Significance

• Artworks: 100 ceramic installations, including 28 large-scale pieces (cups, pitchers, kettles).

• Tourism: Includes selfie points, café, green landscapes → attracts domestic and foreign tourists.

DEFENCE

7. SAGARMATHA FRIENDSHIP-2025 (NEPAL–CHINA)

Current Context: The Nepali Army and China’s PLA have started the 4th edition of joint military exercise Sagarmatha Friendship-2025 in Kathmandu, running until 16 September 2025.

About the Exercise

• First Held: 2017.

• Frequency: Biennial; alternates between Nepal and China.

• Focus:

  • Joint counter-terrorism operations

  • Disaster relief

  • UN peacekeeping training

SPORTS

8. ABHIMANYU MISHRA – YOUNGEST GRANDMASTER TO DEFEAT WORLD CHAMPION

Current Context: On 8 September 2025, in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), 16-year-old American chess prodigy Abhimanyu Mishra defeated World Champion D Gukesh at the FIDE Grand Swiss, becoming the youngest ever to beat a reigning world champion in classical chess.

About Abhimanyu Mishra

• Nationality: American (Indian-origin)

• Born: 2009

• Titles:

  • Youngest International Master (2019) – at 10 years, 9 months, 20 days.

  • Youngest Grandmaster (2021) – at 12 years, 4 months, 25 days in Budapest.

  • Youngest to Beat World Champion (2025) – defeated D Gukesh at 16 years.

Match Highlights

• Event: FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Round 5.

• Opponent: D Gukesh (19-year-old reigning World Champion).

• Result: Mishra won in 61 moves, exploiting a mistake by Gukesh on the 12th move.

• Record Broken: Gata Kamsky’s 33-year-old record (he beat Kasparov at 17).

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