Prelims Current Affairs includes Martyrs Day (Shaheed Diwas), International Data Privacy Day, Model Youth Gram Sabha, Chatergala Pass, Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards – 2025, Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026, Sea of Japan, Nipah Virus & Paris Agreement

IMPORTANT DAY

1. MARTYRS DAY (SHAHEED DIWAS)

Observed on 30 January in memory of Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters.

• Reason: Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948
• Other Martyrs Remembered: Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar (23 March 1931)

IMPORTANT DAY

2.  INTERNATIONAL DATA PRIVACY DAY

Observed annually on 28 January

• Aim : to raise awareness about personal data protection in the digital age.
• Commemorates: Signing of Convention 108
• Adopted By: Council of Europe (1981)
• Significance: World’s first legally binding international treaty on data protection
• Objective: Safeguard individuals’ personal data from misuse

India’s Data Privacy Imperative

• Digital Rank: 3rd largest digitalised economy in the world
• India’s Expanding Digital Footprint
• Aadhaar Cards: ~143 crore
• DigiLocker Users: ~14 crore
• UPI Transactions: ~₹28 lakh crore
• Broadband Subscribers: ~101 crore

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. MODEL YOUTH GRAM SABHA

Current Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is jointly organising a National Award Ceremony to felicitate winners of the Model Youth Gram Sabha initiative.

ABOUT MODEL YOUTH GRAM SABHA

• Nature: Simulated forum for school children to participate in mock Gram Sabha sessions
• Inspired By: Model United Nations (Model UN) school simulations
• Objective:
  • Strengthen Janbhagidari (people’s participation)
  • Promote participatory local self-governance among youth
  • Initiating Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• Collaborating Ministries: Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tribal Affairs

KEY FEATURES

• Target Group: Students of Classes 9 to 12
• Activities:
• Conduct mock Gram Sabha meetings
• Discuss village-level issues
• Prepare village budgets and development plans

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• Grant: ₹20,000 per school
• Purpose: Organising mock Gram Sabha activities

PLACE IN NEWS

4.  CHATERGALA PASS

Current Context: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully conducted a high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation under Project Sampark at Chatergala Pass.

ABOUT CHATERGALA PASS

• Location: Bhaderwah–Chatergala axis, Jammu region, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
• Altitude: Approximately 10,500 feet
• Connectivity:
• Connects Bani (Kathua district) with Bhaderwah (Doda district)
• Mountain Range: Chamba–Doda ranges of the Greater Himalayas

PHYSICAL FEATURES

• Terrain: Alpine meadows, snow-covered peaks, dense forests
• Fauna: Himalayan monal, ibex, musk deer

ABOUT BORDER ROADS ORGANISATION (BRO)

• Nature: Road construction executive force supporting Indian Armed Forces
• Ministry: Ministry of Defence (since 2015)
• Established On: 7 May 1960
• Objective: Secure borders and develop infrastructure in remote and border areas

AWARDS

5. JEEVAN RAKSHA PADAK AWARDS – 2025

Current Context: The President of India has conferred the Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards–2025 on 30 persons.

ABOUT JEEVAN RAKSHA PADAK AWARDS

• Purpose: Honour acts of exceptional courage in saving human lives
• Nature: Civil bravery award

CATEGORIES

• Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak:
  • Conspicuous courage in circumstances of very great danger
• Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak:
  • Courage and promptitude under great danger
• Jeevan Raksha Padak:
  • Courage and promptitude involving grave bodily injury

ELIGIBILITY & PROCESS

• Open to persons from all walks of life
  • Can be awarded posthumously
  • Nominations invited annually from States, UTs and Union Ministries
  • Reviewed by Awards Committee
  • Final approval by Prime Minister and President of India

AWARD COMPONENTS

• Sarvottam: ₹2 lakh + Medal + Certificate
• Uttam: ₹1.5 lakh + Medal + Certificate
• Jeevan Raksha: ₹1 lakh + Medal + Certificate

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

6. VANDE MATARAM COASTAL CYCLOTHON 2026

Current Context: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) organised the second edition of the Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026, virtually flagged off from New Delhi by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, as part of the nationwide commemoration of 150 years of “Vande Mataram”.

Theme: “Surakshit Tat, Samridh Bharat”

ABOUT VANDE MATARAM COASTAL CYCLOTHON

• Organising Force: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
• Edition: Second edition
• Duration: 25 days
• Flag-off Location: New Delhi (virtual flag-off)
• Commemoration: 150 years of “Vande Mataram” (continuing till 22nd of next month)

PLACE IN NEWS

7. SEA OF JAPAN

Current Context: Recently, North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, raising regional security concerns.

ABOUT SEA OF JAPAN

• Also Known As: East Sea
• Type: Marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean
• Location & Boundaries : East: Japan and Sakhalin Island, West: Mainland Russia, North Korea, and South Korea

Connections

• Connected to East China Sea via Tsushima Strait and Korea Strait
• Connected to Sea of Okhotsk via La Perouse Strait and Tatar Strait
• Connected to Inland Sea of Japan via Kanmon Strait
• Connected to Pacific Ocean via Tsugaru Strait

Physical Features

• Deepest Point: Dohoku Seamount (underwater volcano)
• Climate: Warm waters contribute to Japan’s mild climate
• Tides: Almost no tides due to near enclosure from Pacific Ocean
• Biological Feature: High dissolved oxygen → high marine productivity

Major Ports

• Russia: Vladivostok, Sovetskaya Gavan, Nakhodka, Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, Kholmsk
• North Korea: Hamhung, Chongjin, Wonsan
• Japan: Niigata, Tsuruta, Maizuru

HEALTH AND DISEASE

8. NIPAH VIRUS

Current Context: According to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), two confirmed cases of Nipah Virus Disease have been reported from West Bengal from December last year till date.

ABOUT NIPAH VIRUS

• Nature: Zoonotic virus (animal to human transmission)
• Natural Reservoir: Fruit bats (flying foxes)

Transmission

• Animal to Human:
  • Contact with infected bats or pigs
  • Consumption of raw date palm sap or bat-contaminated fruit
• Human to Human:
  • Close contact with body fluids of infected persons

History & Medical Details

• First Identified: 1999 outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore
• Transmission Chain: Bats → Pigs → Humans
• Incubation Period: 4–14 days

INTERNATIONAL

9. PARIS AGREEMENT

Current Context: The United States officially exited the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, raising concerns about global climate cooperation.

ABOUT PARIS AGREEMENT

• Adopted At: UNFCCC COP21, Paris (2015)
• Entered Into Force: 2016
• Nature: Legally binding international treaty
• Parties: 195 (194 countries + European Union)
• India: Signatory and active participant

Core Objectives

• Hold global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
• Pursue efforts to limit warming to 5°C to reduce climate risks

Significance

• Recognises climate change as a global emergency
• Emphasises international cooperation for mitigation and adaptation

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