Prelims Current Affairs includes Important Day, International Day of Democracy, STAR Missile, Erra Matti Dibbalu, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Exercise Siyom Prahar and INS Aravali.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. HINDI DIWAS

• Celebrated on 14 September every year to honour the adoption of Hindi as the official language of India.

About Hindi Diwas

• On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Republic of India.

• Recognises the role of Hindi in national integration and communication.

• Promotes awareness about the use and importance of the Hindi language.

• The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953.

2. ENGINEER’S DAY (INDIA)

• Celebrated on 15 September every year in India.

• Aim: To honour the contribution of engineers in nation building.

About Engineer’s Day

• Marks the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861–1962).

• Visvesvaraya was a renowned civil engineer, statesman, and the Diwan of Mysore (1912–1919).

• Made pioneering contributions in the field of irrigation, flood control, and dams (notably the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam).

3. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

• Observed on 15 September every year to promote democratic values worldwide.

About International Day of Democracy

• Established in 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly.

• Aim: To raise public awareness about democracy as a universal value and to uphold human rights and the rule of law.

• Emphasises that democracy is about people and participation, not just elections.

• Encourages governments to strengthen democratic institutions and civic education.

DEFENCE

4. STAR MISSILE

Current Context: India has successfully tested the indigenously developed Supersonic TARget (STAR) missile, ending dependence on costly imported target systems for missile training exercises.

About STAR Missile

• Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

• Purpose: To simulate realistic threats for training India’s armed forces in missile interception and defence systems

• Nature: Not a combat weapon — mimics enemy missiles for training

Variants

• Air-Launched STAR:

  • Can be launched from fighter jets like LCA Tejas

  • Simulates air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes including Anti-Radiation and Anti-AWACS roles

• Ground-Launched STAR:

  • Truck-mounted, mobile

  • Can be launched from shorelines or remote areas

Key Features

• Two-stage propulsion:

  • Solid booster rocket for launch

  • Liquid Fuel Ramjet (LFRJ) for sustained supersonic speed

• Speed: Mach 1.8 – 2.5

• Altitude: 100 metres – 10 kilometres

• Range: 55 – 175 kilometres

• Flight time: 50 – 200 seconds

• Simulates sea-skimming and high-altitude attack profiles

• Highly manoeuvrable and can perform evasive movements

• Allows radar and missile systems to practice interception

• Option for safe recovery or detonation after mission

5. EXERCISE SIYOM PRAHAR

Current Context: The Indian Army has recently conducted Exercise Siyom Prahar to test and validate the operational use of drones under battlefield conditions.

About Exercise Siyom Prahar

• Type: Major field training exercise of Indian Army

• Focus: Use of drone technology in modern tactical operations

• Aim: Enhance operational preparedness and battlefield effectiveness

6. INS ARAVALI

Current Context: The Indian Navy has commissioned a new naval base named INS Aravali at Gurugram, Haryana to strengthen its information and communication infrastructure.

About INS Aravali

• Location: Gurugram, Haryana

• Named after: Aravali mountain range

• Motto: “Maritime Security through Collaboration”

Key Features

• Supports naval information and communication centres

• Enhances Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)

• Strengthens command and control operations

• Promotes cooperation with other naval units and allied stakeholders

• Part of India’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)

• Symbolism: Crest shows central mountain (strength) and rising sun (vigilance and innovation)

• Strengthens India’s role as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region

ENVIRONMENT

7. GANDHI SAGAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Current Context: Madhya Pradesh has initiated a plan to introduce a female cheetah into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to expand the cheetah reintroduction programme.

About Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Northwestern Madhya Pradesh (along MP-Rajasthan border)

• Declared as: Wildlife sanctuary in 1974

• Area: 368 sq. km

• River: Chambal River flows through it, dividing it into two parts

• Ecoregion: Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests

Key Features

• • Identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)

  • Includes historical and archaeological sites like:

    • Chaurasigarh

    • Chaturbhujnath Temple

    • Bhadkaji rock paintings

    • Hinglajgarh Fort

    • Taxakeshwar Temple

MISC.

8. ERRA MATTI DIBBALU

Current Context: Andhra Pradesh’s Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) have been included in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.

About Erra Matti Dibbalu

• Location: Near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

• Discovered by: British geologist William King in 1886

• Declared as: National Geo-heritage Monument by Geological Survey of India in 2016

Key Features

• Composed of sand, silt, and clay with a distinct red colour due to natural oxidation

• Represent the late Quaternary geologic age

• Show unique badland topography with gullies, dunes, buried channels, beach ridges, wave-cut terraces, etc.

• Depict real-time climate change effects and geological evolution

• Archaeological significance: Artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic period (around 20,000 BC) found

• Only two similar sites exist globally — one in Sri Lanka and one in Tamil Nadu (Teri Sands)

• Faces threats from uncontrolled tourism and filming activities

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