Prelims Current Affairs includes Jharkhand Foundation Day, Birsa Munda Day, Punjab Becomes First State to Implement Amended BharatNet Scheme Statewide, 2025 Khelo India University Games, Global TB Report 2025, Global Cooling Watch 2025 Report, Durga Drone Squadron.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. JHARKHAND FOUNDATION DAY

Observed every year on 15 November

• Jharkhand was formed on November 15, 2000.
• The Bihar Reorganization Act established Bihar as the 28th state of India.

2. BIRSA MUNDA DAY

Observed every year on 15 November
Aim : to honor the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a religious and tribal freedom fighter, born in Jharkhand’s district of Khunti, on November 15, 1875.

• The region was a part of British India’s Bihar.
• Birsa Munda was a significant figure in the Indian freedom movement.

STATE NEWS

3. PUNJAB BECOMES FIRST STATE TO IMPLEMENT AMENDED BHARAT NET SCHEME STATEWIDE

Current Context: Punjab has become the first state in India to fully implement the amended Bharat Net Scheme, providing broadband connectivity to nearly all villages, including 43 shadow areas, with only one village remaining.

•  The rollout enables live monitoring of border areas, strengthens e-governance and e-health services, and sets a replicable model for other states.
•  Punjab became the first state with a functional State Network Operations Centre (S-NOC) under the Amended BharatNet Project.
• Coverage Status: Internet and broadband provided to 43 shadow areas; the remaining village to be connected by end of November 2025, achieving 100% coverage.
• BharatNet Scheme: Launched in 2011, aims to provide access to e-health, e-education, and e-governance services in rural areas.

SPORTS

4. 2025 KHELO INDIA UNIVERSITY GAMES

Current Context: Sports Authority of India (SAI), in collaboration with the Rajasthan State Sports Council and the Government of Rajasthan, unveiled the Logo, Mascot, Torch, and Jersey for the 5th Edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025 at Amer Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

ABOUT 2025 KHELO INDIA UNIVERSITY GAMES

Overview: Scheduled from 24 November to 5 December 2025.
Host Cities: Seven cities in Rajasthan — Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Bikaner; first time Rajasthan is hosting a national university sports event.
Logo: Features Hawa Mahal, Ranthambore Fort, Sand dunes, Windmills, and a pink color palette.
Mascots: “Khamma” and “Ghani”, embodying Rajasthan’s spirit and culture.

REPORTS

5. GLOBAL TB REPORT 2025

Current Context: WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 shows that India remains the country with the highest TB burden (25% of global cases) despite achieving a 21% reduction in incidence since 2015.

ABOUT GLOBAL TB REPORT 2025:

Published by: World Health Organization (WHO).
Aim: Track progress towards the End TB Strategy (2015–2035) targeting a 90% reduction in TB deaths and 80% reduction in incidence by 2030.

Global Trends in TB:
Global Incidence: TB incidence declined by 1.7% between 2023 and 2024, reversing pandemic setbacks.
Regional Patterns: Declines in African, South-East Asian, Eastern Mediterranean, and European Regions; Americas saw rises due to under-detection.

TB Trends in India:
Incidence Rate: From 195 (2023) to 187 per 100,000 (2024) — a 21% reduction since 2015.
Mortality: Declined from 28 (2015) to 21 per 100,000 (2024).
Policy Momentum: Ni-kshay 2.0 and TB-Mukt Bharat improved 92% treatment coverage and expanded molecular diagnostics.

6. GLOBAL COOLING WATCH 2025 REPORT

Current Context: UNEP launched the Global Cooling Watch 2025 report at COP30 (Belém, Brazil), warning that global cooling demand could triple by 2050 under business-as-usual conditions.

Aim: Analyse global cooling trends, project future emissions, and propose a “Sustainable Cooling Pathway” to achieve near-zero emissions.

Key Trends Identified:

Rising Cooling Demand: Cooling capacity may rise 2.6× (22 TW → 58 TW) by 2050, driven by urbanization, income growth, and heatwaves.
Emission Surge: Cooling emissions may hit 10.5 billion tons CO₂e by 2050 — nearly double 2022 levels.
Heat Inequality: Over 2 billion people in low-income households vulnerable to extreme heat due to lack of affordable, efficient cooling.

MISCELLANEOUS

7. DURGA DRONE SQUADRON

Current Context: The Border Security Force (BSF) has commissioned its first all-women drone operations unit named ‘Durga Drone Squadron’, at the School of Drone Warfare (SDW), BSF Academy, Gwalior, MP.

ABOUT DURGA DRONE SQUADRON

Aim: Integrate women personnel into drone-based surveillance and reconnaissance along India’s borders.
Named after Goddess Durga — symbolizing power, precision, and resilience.
Training: Specialized training in advanced drone operations including

• Surveillance
• Intelligence gathering
• Reconnaissance
• Counter-drone techniques

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