Prelims Current Affairs includes Adi Sanskriti Platform at Bharat Mandapam, Langkhun festival, Scientists in Siberia discovered a 44,000-year-old preserved wolf in permafrost, India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC), Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison became the world’s richest person, The International Cricket Council (ICC) launched its flagship ‘Will to Win’ campaign and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

IMPORTANT DAY

1. INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY

• Celebrated every year on 13 September.

• Aim: To commemorate the birth of Milton S. Hershey — American chocolatier, businessman, and philanthropist who founded the Hershey Chocolate Company.

• Celebrated to honour the cultural and economic impact of chocolate worldwide.

• Established by the U.S. National Confectioners Association.

REPORT

2. KERALA’S MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO (MMR)

Current Context: Kerala’s maternal mortality ratio has risen from 18 to 30 per 100,000 live births as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021–2023 bulletin.

About MMR Trends in Kerala

• Earlier stable at 30–32 per 100,000 live births from 2014 to 2019.

• Spike to 51 in 2021–22 due to 220 maternal deaths linked to COVID-19.

• Now stabilised at 30, though higher than 18 reported previously.

Declining Live Births & Its Impact

• Annual live births declined from 5–5.5 lakh earlier to below 4 lakh now.

• 3,93,231 live births in 2023, expected to drop to ~3.54 lakh in 2024–25.

• MMR = (Maternal Deaths ÷ Live Births) × 100,000 → fewer births make the ratio more sensitive to each death.

Definition & Classification of Maternal Mortality

• MMR: Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

• Maternal death: Death during pregnancy or within 42 days after termination, from causes related to pregnancy or its management (not accidents).

• ICD codes: O00–O96, O98, O99, A34.

• ICD-11 (2022) updated terminology but statistics remain comparable.

Related Terms

• Live birth: Any baby showing signs of life at birth, regardless of gestation.

• Late maternal death: Death after 42 days but within 1 year post-pregnancy.

• ICD-11 combines early and late maternal deaths as comprehensive maternal deaths.

HEALTH

3. MALARIA VACCINE — ADFALCIVAX

Current Context: The Union government has licensed five Indian firms to manufacture and commercialise AdFalciVax, India’s first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine, developed by ICMR.

About AdFalciVax

• Type: Recombinant chimeric multi-stage vaccine

• Target: Blocks infection and transmission of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite

• Developed by: ICMR–RMRC Bhubaneswar with support from ICMR–NIMR (Delhi) and NII (Delhi)

Significance

• India bears 1.4% of global malaria cases and 66% of Southeast Asia’s burden.

• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in health R&D.

• Reduces dependence on imported vaccines.

• Supports India’s Malaria Elimination Goal 2030.

GEOGRAPHY

4. GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM (GERD)

Current Context: Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) — Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, despite Egypt protesting at the UN citing water security threats.

About GERD

• Location: Blue Nile River, near Guba in Ethiopia (~30 km from Sudan)

• Started: 2011 by Ethiopia

• Purpose: Power generation, national development, regional energy trade

• Height: ~170 m

• Length: ~2 km

• Reservoir Capacity: 74 billion cubic metres

• Flooded Area: ~1,874 km²

• Power Capacity: 5,150–6,450 MW (largest in Africa)

• Special Feature: Designed to trap ~100 years’ worth of sediment inflow

About Blue Nile River

• Known as Abay River in Ethiopia

• Length: ~1,460 km

• Origin: Lake Tana (Ethiopian Highlands, ~1,800 m elevation)

• Flows through Ethiopia → Sudan → joins White Nile at Khartoum

• Provides ~70–85% of Nile’s total flow

• Major tributaries: Dinder River, Rahad River

SCHEME

5. ESIC LAUNCHES SPREE-2025 AND AMNESTY SCHEME-2025

Current Context: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched two key schemes to expand social security and simplify compliance for industries.

SPREE-2025

• Full Form: Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees

• Validity: Up to 31 December 2025

• Key Features:

  • Allows unregistered employers/employees to enrol via ESI Portal, Shram Suvidha Portal, or Company Affairs Portal

  • No demand for old dues during registration

  • Coverage starts from registration date or declared earlier date

  • Immediate ESI benefits to newly registered employees

• Objective: Promote voluntary registration, reduce litigation, build trust, and simplify compliance

Amnesty Scheme-2025

• Duration: 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026

• Purpose: One-time settlement of pending disputes related to damages, interest, and coverage under ESI Act

• Benefits:

  • Dispute resolution and compliance improvement

  • Reduces lawsuits and ensures uninterrupted social security benefits

• Goal: Provide legal relief to industries and expand ESI coverage to more workers

DEFENCE

6. SAMUDRA PRADAKSHINA

Current Context: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh virtually flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ on 11 September 2025 from Mumbai — the world’s first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition.

About Samudra Pradakshina

• Type: First-ever Tri-Service (Army, Navy, Air Force) all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition.

• Vessel: Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni – indigenously built.

• Team: 10 women officers from Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Route & Duration

• Will sail ~26,000 nautical miles on an easterly route.

• Will cross Equator twice and round the three Great Capes: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape of Good Hope.

• Will cover all major oceans including the Southern Ocean and the Drake Passage.

• Expedition will last 9 months (Sep 2025–May 2026) with 4 international port calls.

Scientific Component

• Will conduct research with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).

• Study microplastics, document ocean life, and raise awareness on marine health.

Norms

• Will follow World Sailing Speed Record Council rules — must cross all longitudes, equator, and complete >21,600 nautical miles under sail alone (no canal or engine use).

Challenge

• Rounding Cape Horn in Southern Ocean (Dec 2025–Feb 2026) — considered the toughest test of seamanship.

Note: Indian Navy earlier conducted all-women circumnavigation expeditions on INSV Tarini.

SUMMIT

7. INDIAN OCEAN REGION (IOR)

Current Context: The 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP48) was hosted for the first time in the Indian subcontinent, with participation from governments, international agencies, and maritime experts.

About COLP48

• Theme: Developing World Approaches to Ocean Governance: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Rim

• Organisers:

  • Stockton Center for International Law (U.S. Naval War College)

  • Gujarat Maritime University

  • Supported by India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences

  • Traditionally organised by Center for Oceans Law & Policy, University of Virginia (USA)

India’s 5 Priority Areas for Ocean Governance

• Ensure livelihood & food security through sustainable fisheries.

• Deepen regional cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim nations based on South-South solidarity.

• Blend traditional knowledge and participatory governance with modern science.

• Promote climate resilience & ecosystem-based approaches for biodiversity protection.

• Mobilise innovative finance & build research and technology capacity.

About Indian Ocean

• Covers ~1/5th of world ocean area.

• Boundaries:

  • North: Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh

  • East: Malay Peninsula, Sunda Islands (Indonesia), Australia

  • South: Southern Ocean

  • West: Africa, Arabian Peninsula

SPACE

8. ISRO–HAL AGREEMENT ON SSLV TECHNOLOGY

Current Context: ISRO signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to transfer technology for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV) production.

Key Highlights

• Marks a major step in industry participation in space sector.

• This is the 100th technology transfer facilitated by INSPACe (space sector promoter).

• ISRO will complete the transfer process within 24 months, with training and technical support to HAL.

• HAL will then be able to independently build and sell SSLVs in domestic and international markets.

About SSLV

• Type: 3-stage, all-solid fuel launch vehicle

• Payload: Up to 500 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• Purpose:

  • Quick turnaround, on-demand launches

  • Industry-friendly production design

  • Targeted at global small satellite launch market

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