Prelims Current Affairs includes National Energy Conservation Day, Boreendo — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Champions of the Earth Award 2025, Sanchar Mitra Scheme, Project Suncatcher, Charaichung Royal Bird Sanctuary.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION DAY

• Observed every year on 14 December.
• Aim: To spread awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation in daily life.
• Celebrated since 1991
• Organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power

MISC

2. BOREENDO — UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Current Context: Boreendo, an ancient musical instrument from Pakistan, has been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

ABOUT BOREENDO

• Traditional musical instrument from the Sindh region, Pakistan
• 5,000-year-old heritage, traced to Mohenjo Daro (Indus Valley Civilisation)
• Structure: Hollow, spherical clay instrument with sound holes
• Manufacturing: Sun-drying and kiln-firing of clay
• Played predominantly by men; women decorate the instrument
• Sound produced by blowing air; tone adjusted by tilting the mouthpiece
• Used during winter bonfires, weddings, and cultural festivals

AWARDS

3. CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH AWARD — 2025

Current Context: Ms. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Climate Change & Forests), Government of Tamil Nadu, has won the UNEP Champions of the Earth Award 2025.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Established in 2005 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• UN’s highest environmental honour
• Recognises individuals and organisations protecting the planet through innovative and sustainable actions

FOCUS AREAS

• Climate change
• Biodiversity loss
• Pollution
• Waste reduction

CATEGORIES OF THE AWARD

Policy Leadership – For governmental leaders shaping environmental action
Inspiration & Action – For individuals inspiring global change
Entrepreneurial Vision – For visionary green innovations
Science & Innovation – For technological breakthroughs benefiting the environment

SCHEME

4. SANCHAR MITRA SCHEME

Current Context: The Government informed the Lok Sabha that 222 educational institutions across India are participating in the Sanchar Mitra Scheme, strengthening youth-led awareness on safe digital practices and telecom security.

ABOUT SANCHAR MITRA SCHEME

• Youth-oriented initiative by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
• Trains student volunteers (Sanchar Mitras) to spread awareness on:
  1. Safe digital behaviour
  2. Telecom fraud prevention
  3. Government digital initiatives
• Volunteers conduct outreach in communities, schools, and public spaces

ELIGIBILITY & TRAINING

• Open to students from institutions offering telecom, electronics, computers, cybersecurity, etc.
• Training provided by experts and National Communications Academy–Technology (NCA-T)
• Topics include cybersecurity, emerging telecom technologies, policies, and regulations

BENEFITS FOR TOP PERFORMERS

• Access to R&D projects and start-ups
• Participation in policy and standards work
• Field surveys and DoT initiatives
• Exposure to national conferences

IMPLEMENTATION
Implemented across all States and UTs through DoT’s Licensed Service Area (LSA) offices

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

5. PROJECT SUNCATCHER

Current Context: Google CEO announced the launch of Project Suncatcher, a long-term initiative to build space-based solar-powered data centres.

ABOUT PROJECT SUNCATCHER

• Aims to deploy solar-powered satellite constellations for machine-learning computations
• Satellites will use Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs)

ADVANTAGES

• Eliminates environmental impact of Earth-based data centres
• Reduces risk from power outages, cable failures, and natural disasters
• Enhances data sovereignty, as outer space is beyond national jurisdiction under the Outer Space Treaty, 1967

ENVIRONMENT

6. CHARAICHUNG ROYAL BIRD SANCTUARY

Current Context: The second Charaichung Festival was held in Majuli to revive Asia’s first royal bird sanctuary.

ABOUT THE SANCTUARY

• Asia’s first protected bird sanctuary (Established in 1633 AD)
• Founded by Ahom King Swargadeu Pratap Singha
• Located in Majuli, the world’s largest river island
• Biodiversity: Around 150 indigenous and migratory bird species

CHARAICHUNG FESTIVAL

• Promotes sanctuary-based tourism
• Organised by Majuli Sahitya Sabha and local communities

ABOUT MAJULI ISLAND

• Formed by the Brahmaputra, Kherkutia Xuti, and Subansiri rivers
• Famous rice varieties: Komal Saul, Bao Dhan
• Major tribes: Mishing, Deori, Sonowal Kachari

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