Prelims Current Affairs includes Finke River, Sukhatme National Award in Statistics, Womaniya Initiative, Kaziranga National Park, Vijender Singh Joins Asian Boxing Council

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD RELIGION DAY

Observed annually on the third Sunday of January; in 2026, it falls on 18 January.

• Initiated By: Baháʼí
• Year of Initiation:

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

• Promote interfaith understanding and peace.
• Encourage dialogue and education about different religions.
• Highlight shared principles and spiritual harmony among world religions.

APPOINTMENTS

2. UGANDA PRESIDENT

Current Context: Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has won a seventh term with 71.65% votes in the 2026 elections.

ABOUT THE ELECTION

• Term: Seventh presidential term.
• Vote Share:65%.
• Opposition Response: Results rejected by Bobi Wine alleging irregularities.

UGANDA’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM

• System: Presidential system.
• Election Authority: Electoral Commission of Uganda.
• Judicial Oversight: Supreme Court hears election petitions.

KEY FACTS ABOUT UGANDA

• Region: East-Central Africa.
• Capital:
• Independence:
• Borders: DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania.
• Equator: Passes through Uganda.
• Highest Peak: Margherita Peak (5,109 m).
• Major Lake: Lake Victoria.

INTERNATIONAL

3. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – PRESIDENT’S INDIA VISIT

Current Context: The President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is visiting India for official talks.

ABOUT UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

• Region: Middle East (north-east Arabian Peninsula).
• Capital: Abu Dhabi.

BOUNDARIES

• Land Borders: Saudi Arabia and Oman.
• Maritime Boundaries: Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

• Rocky deserts, coastal plains and wetlands.
• Hot and humid coastal climate; hot and dry interior.
• Highest Point: Jabal Bil ‘Ays (1,905 m).
• Major ports: Port Rashid and Port Jebel Ali.
• Natural resources: Petroleum and natural gas.
• Tropic of Cancer passes through Abu Dhabi emirate.

ENVIRONMENT

4. BOR TIGER RESERVE

Current Context: Two new safari gates were inaugurated at the Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.

ABOUT BOR TIGER RESERVE

• Location: Wardha district, Maharashtra.
• Area:12 square kilometres.
• Status: Smallest tiger reserve in India.

GEOGRAPHICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Includes drainage basin of Bor Dam.
• Centrally located among major tiger habitats.

NEARBY PROTECTED AREAS

• Pench Tiger Reserve.
• Nagzira–Navegaon Tiger Reserve.
• Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve.
• Melghat and Satpura Tiger Reserves.

FLORA AND VEGETATION

• Dry deciduous forests.
• Teak, tendu, bamboo, tarot and gokhru.

DISEASE

5. GUILLAIN–BARRÉ SYNDROME (GBS)

Current Context: A Guillain–Barré Syndrome outbreak has been reported in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh.

ABOUT GUILLAIN–BARRÉ SYNDROME

• Type: Rare autoimmune neurological disorder.
• Also Known As: Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
• Affected System: Peripheral nervous system.

CAUSES

• Often follows viral or bacterial infection.
• Can occur after vaccination or major surgery.

SYMPTOMS

• Fever followed by muscle weakness.
• Progressive paralysis in severe cases.
• Can cause respiratory failure.

TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS

• No permanent cure available.
• Early treatment improves recovery.
• Most patients recover within months, though some effects may persist.

HIMACHAL NEWS

6. MSME MINISTRY APPROVES TECHNOLOGY CENTRES

Current Context: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has approved two new MSME Technology Centres in Himachal Pradesh.

ABOUT THE APPROVAL

• Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Number of Centres:
• Cost: About ₹10 crore per centre.

LOCATIONS

• Pandoga: Una district.
• Parwanoo: Solan district.

OBJECTIVES

• Promote industrial growth.
• Strengthen skill development.
• Generate employment opportunities.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Supports industrialisation in hill and less-developed regions.
• Parwanoo strengthens existing industrial hub near Chandigarh.
• Pandoga promotes balanced regional development.

MISCELLANEOUS

7. NDIA’S FIRST SLEEPER VANDE BHARAT TRAIN LAUNCHED

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched India’s first sleeper Vande Bharat train connecting Howrah and Guwahati.

ABOUT VANDE BHARAT SLEEPER TRAIN

• Type: Semi-high-speed overnight train.
• Manufacturing: Fully Made in India.
• Purpose: Long-distance overnight travel.

ROUTE AND SCHEDULE

• Route: Howrah (Kolkata) – Kamakhya (Guwahati).
• Frequency: Six days a week.
• Travel Time: About 14 hours.
• Departure: Evening from both ends.

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