Prelims Current Affairs includes a book on Why the Constitution Matters, Civil Service and Digital Transformation, Child Marriage-Free, Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), Smog Eating Photocatalytic Coatings and Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0

BOOK

1. BOOK “WHY THE CONSTITUTION MATTERS”

Current Context: Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has written his first book titled “Why the Constitution Matters”, which highlights how constitutional values influence and shape everyday life in India.

About Justice DY Chandrachud

• Tenure:

  • Served as the 50th Chief Justice of India.

  • Retired in November 2024.

• Key Contributions: Delivered landmark rulings on privacy, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of expression.

• Recognition:

  • Known as a liberal constitutionalist.

  • Strong advocate of rights expansion and judicial independence.

AWARD

2. NATIONAL E-GOVERNANCE AWARDS 2025

Current Context: At the 28th National Conference on e-Governance held on 22 September 2025 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, several Gram Panchayats were honoured with the National e-Governance Awards 2025 for their digital innovations in citizen services. The awards were presented by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the PMO.

About the Awards

• Theme: “Viksit Bharat: Civil Service and Digital Transformation.”

• Process: Over 1.45 lakh entries were evaluated in a multi-tier selection process.

• Award Benefits: Gold Award winners received ₹10 lakh, while Silver Award winners received ₹5 lakh, along with a trophy and certificate.

Award-Winning Gram Panchayats

• Gold Award: Rohini Gram Panchayat, Maharashtra

  • First fully paperless Gram Panchayat in Maharashtra.

  • Offers 1,027 online services such as certificates and welfare schemes.

  • Achieved 100% household digital literacy.

  • Runs real-time grievance redressal and bulk SMS outreach.

• Silver Award: West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura

  • Developed as a Citizen Charter-driven Panchayat.

  • Provides digital services for registrations, job cards, licenses, and property records.

  • Ensures timely service delivery through digital tracking.

• Jury Award: Palsana Gram Panchayat, Gujarat

  • Integrated Digital Gujarat and Gram Suvidha platforms.

  • Enabled QR/UPI property tax payments.

  • Provides services to over 10,000 citizens annually.

• Jury Award: Suakati Gram Panchayat, Odisha

  • Uses Odisha One and Seva Odisha platforms for 24/7 services.

  • Promotes women’s leadership in governance.

  • Ensures inclusive and transparent service delivery.

STATE IN NEWS

3. SURAJPUR DECLARED CHILD MARRIAGE-FREE PANCHAYATS

Current Context: Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh declared 75 village panchayats as Child Marriage-Free, making it the first district in the state to achieve this milestone under the Healthy Women, Empowered Families campaign.

About the Initiative

• Background:

  • The campaign was launched in March 2024 by CM Vishnu Deo Sai with UNICEF support.

  • Aim: To make Chhattisgarh a Child Marriage-Free State.

• Community Participation:

  • Awareness drives led by the Women and Child Development Department.

  • Involvement of Anganwadi workers, Panchayat leaders, NGOs, and families.

  • Parents encouraged to focus on girls’ education and health.

ENVIRONMENT

4. TROPICAL FORESTS FOREVER FACILITY (TFFF)

Current Context: Brazil has become the first country to invest in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a permanent global fund created to protect tropical forests.

About TFFF

• Origin:

  • Proposed by Brazil at COP28 (UAE, 2023).

  • Designed as a long-term multilateral fund for forest conservation.

• Goal:

  • Mobilise US $125 billion from public and private sources.

  • Provide fixed payments per hectare of protected forest to tropical forest countries.

• Financial Structure:

  • Sponsors (20%): High-income countries and philanthropies.

  • Market Investors (80%): Sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, endowments.

  • Fund Management: To be managed by a Multilateral Development Bank such as the World Bank.

  • Mechanism: Raises money via debt instruments like bonds.

5. SMOG EATING TECHNOLOGY

Current Context: The Delhi Government has ordered a study on the use of Smog Eating Photocatalytic Coatings on city roads to tackle air pollution.

About Smog Eating Photocatalytic Coatings

• Objective: To reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and harmful hydrocarbons in public spaces.

• Mechanism:

  • Uses light energy to trigger chemical reactions.

  • Coatings made with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) act as catalysts under UV light.

  • Breaks down harmful pollutants into harmless matter.

ECONOMY

6. INDUSTRIAL PARK RATING SYSTEM 3.0 (IPRS 3.0)

Current Context: The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched the Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0 to benchmark and categorise industrial parks across India.

About IPRS 3.0

• Developer: Introduced by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

• Classification: Industrial parks will be rated as Leaders, Challengers, and Aspirers.

• New Parameters: Sustainability, green infrastructure, logistics connectivity, digitalisation, skill linkages, and talent feedback.

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