Prelims Current Affairs includes National Press Day, International Students Day, National Epilepsy Day, GI Tag to Ambaji Marble, Lake Turkana, Exercise Garuda 2025, Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026, ARISE Program.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. NATIONAL PRESS DAY

Observed every year on 16 November
Aim: to recognize and commemorate the 1966 establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI).

• The day celebrates the existence of a free and accountable press in the nation.
• The theme for 2025 is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.”

2. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS DAY

Observed every year on 17 November
Theme: “Empowering Students as Agents of Innovation and Change.”

• The Nazi troops established International Students Day on November 17, 1939.
• On this day, there were 9 student leaders, and the students’ bravery during this incident was exceptional.

3. NATIONAL EPILEPSY DAY

Observed every year on 17 November
Aim: The primary goal is to raise public awareness of epilepsy disease, its symptoms, and its prevention.
Epilepsy is thought to be a chronic brain disorder marked by recurrent seizures or “fits.” This has been observed to affect people of all ages, and each person has their own set of concerns and problems to deal with.

ECONOMY

4. GI TAG TO AMBAJI MARBLE

Current Context: The Ambaji Marble has received a Geographical Indication Tag (GI Tag) by the Union government.
The certificate is being given by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Union government.

ABOUT AMBAJI MARBLE

• Ambaji’s marble mines date back 1,200–1,500 years, around the time the Dilwara Jain Temple in Mount Abu was constructed.
• It is known for its milky white colour, durability, high calcium content and natural beauty. It is found in Banaskantha district of north Gujarat.
• It is believed to have been used in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

GEOGRAPHY

5. LAKE TURKANA

Current Context: Researchers from Syracuse University and the University of Auckland revealed that long-term climate-driven declines in Lake Turkana’s water levels have increased earthquake and volcanic activity in the East African Rift System.

ABOUT LAKE TURKANA

• It lies mainly in northern Kenya, with its northern end stretching into Ethiopia.
• It is the most saline lake in East Africa and the largest desert lake in the world, surrounded by an arid, seemingly extraterrestrial landscape that is often devoid of life.
• It is Africa’s fourth largest lake, fondly called the Jade Sea because of its breathtaking color.

DEFENCE

6. EXERCISE GARUDA 2025

Current Context: The Indian Air Force arrives at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France for Garuda-2025 (16–27 Nov), teaming up with French Air & Space Force for joint fighter drills.

ABOUT EXERCISE GARUDA 2025:

It is a biennial bilateral air exercise scheduled from 16 to 27 November 2025.
Indian force: Indian Air Force (IAF)
French force: French Air and Space Force
Key aircraft involved: Su-30 MKI (India) and Rafale (France)
Purpose: Bilateral air-exercise to enhance interoperability and defence partnership

REPORTS/INDICES

7. CLIMATE RISK INDEX (CRI) 2026

Current Context: The new Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 report has been released by Germanwatch.
The analysis was presented at the ongoing COP30 in Belem, Brazil.

Key Findings

India was ninth on the list of countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024.
In the last three decades, India faced around 430 extreme weather events which resulted in inflation-adjusted losses of around $170 billion.
Most People Affected: India ranked third behind Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Continuous Threat Category: India, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Haiti placed in “continuous threats” category.

MISCELLANEOUS

8. ARISE PROGRAM

Current Context: At the COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) launched a new program — ARISE (Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies) — with initial funding from Germany and Spain.

ABOUT ARISE PROGRAM

ARISE is the next-generation resilience program launched under the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to help developing countries strengthen their economic and institutional resilience against climate shocks and transform climate risks into opportunities for sustainable growth.

Launched by: Climate Investment Funds (CIF) — a multilateral climate finance mechanism housed within the World Bank.

Aim:

• Mainstream climate resilience into national economic planning
• Mobilize catalytic finance for adaptation
• Empower communities & institutions to withstand and recover from risks like floods, droughts, and storms

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