Prelims Current Affairs includes Barbados on the sidelines of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Green Hydrogen Hubs under NGHM, Nobel Prize in Literature 2025, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025, Nobel Peace Prize 2025, India’s first-ever Mrs Universe title held in Manila and California (United States) has officially declared Diwali a state holiday.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD STANDARDS DAY

• Observed every year on 14 October.

• Aim: To raise awareness among regulators, industry, and consumers about the role of international standards in the global economy.

• Established by: The day is celebrated by international standardization bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

PLACE IN NEWS

2. BARBADOS

Current Context: The Lok Sabha Speaker led an Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) to the National Assembly of Barbados on the sidelines of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

ABOUT BARBADOS

• Location: Island country in the southeastern Caribbean Sea (North Atlantic Ocean), northeast of Venezuela.

• Capital: Bridgetown.

• It lies near the Lesser Antilles, a long arc of small islands in the Caribbean Sea extending from the Virgin Islands to Grenada.

• Political Features: Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Geographical Features:

  • Highest Point: Mount Hillaby.

  • Formed from sedimentary and coral deposits.

  • Surrounded by coral reefs; no major rivers or lakes.

ENVIRONMENT

3. NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION (NGHM)

Current Context: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recognised three major ports as Green Hydrogen Hubs under NGHM — Deendayal Port (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port (Odisha).

ABOUT NGHM

• Announced: January 2023.

• Objective: To make India a Global Hub for the production, usage, and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.

• Target: Production of 5 MMT per annum of Green Hydrogen by 2030.

• Significance: Expected to catalyse industrial participation, attract green investments, and promote innovation in clean fuel technologies.

PRIZE

4. NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE 2025

Current Context: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2025 has been awarded to Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai.

ABOUT THE LAUREATE

• Born: 1954 in Gyula, Hungary (near the Romanian border).

• Major Works: Satantango (1985), The Melancholy of Resistance (1989), War & War (1999).

ABOUT NOBEL PRIZE

• Founded by: Alfred Nobel in 1895.

• First Awarded: 1901.

• Administered by: Nobel Foundation, Sweden.

• Categories: Peace, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences.

5. NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2025

Current Context: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for the development of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs).

ABOUT MOFs

• Structure: Metal ions linked by organic (carbon-based) molecules, forming a 3D porous network.

• Function:

  • Acts like “molecular hotels” with tiny rooms (pores) that can trap, store, and transport gases or ions.

  • One gram of MOF can have an internal surface area equal to a football field.

APPLICATIONS

• Water Harvesting: Captures water vapour at night and releases potable water by morning.

• Pollution Control: Removes PFAS and decomposes pollutants like crude oil residues and antibiotics.

• Industrial Use: Enables hydrogen storage, carbon capture, and recovery of rare-earth elements.

• Healthcare: Used for drug delivery, neutralizing toxic gases, and encapsulating enzymes.

6. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2025

Current Context: The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 has been awarded to Maria Corina Machado for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.

ABOUT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

• Established: 1901.

• Administered by: Nobel Foundation, Stockholm.

• Post–WWII Focus Areas:

  • Arms control and disarmament.

  • Peace negotiations.

  • Democracy and human rights.

  • Building an organized and peaceful world order.

• Indian Winners:

  • Mother Teresa (1979).

  • Kailash Satyarthi (2014).

AWARD

7. SHERRY SINGH WINS INDIA’S FIRST MRS UNIVERSE CROWN

Current Context: Sherry Singh made history by winning India’s first-ever Mrs Universe title held in Manila, marking a proud moment for the nation and inspiring millions through her message of empowerment and resilience.

ABOUT MRS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

• Nature of Event: One of the oldest and most prestigious international pageants for married women, celebrating beauty, intellect, and leadership.

• Evaluation Criteria: Contestants are judged on charisma, advocacy, social contribution, and leadership.

INTERNATIONAL

8. CALIFORNIA DECLARES DIWALI A STATE HOLIDAY

Current Context: In a landmark cultural recognition, the State of California (United States) has officially declared Diwali a state holiday, becoming the third U.S. state to do so after Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

ABOUT THE DECISION

• Purpose: To honour the Indian community’s contribution to the state’s growth, diversity, and cultural harmony.

• Cultural Significance:

  • Recognizes Diwali as a festival symbolizing victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

  • Aims to foster inter-cultural understanding and unity among diverse communities.

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