Prelims Current Affairs includes Women Equality Day, Birth Anniversary of Mother Teresa, National Board of Wildlife (NBWL), Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR), Manufacturing of Advanced Jet Engines, 23rd General Conference in Thailand, Smart City Index 2025, New Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) and 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY

• Observed every year on 26 August.

• Aim: To commemorate the historic moment when women in the United States were granted the right to vote.

• Origin: Marks the certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, granting American women the right to vote.

2. MOTHER TERESA ANNIVERSARY

• Observed every year on 26 August.

• Aim: To mark the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa (1910–1997), globally remembered for her humanitarian service and compassion for the poor and destitute.

ABOUT MOTHER TERESA

• Full Name: Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu

• Born: 26 August 1910, Skopje (then part of the Ottoman Empire, now in North Macedonia)

• Nationality: Originally Albanian, later became an Indian citizen.

• Missionary Work:

  • Founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 in Kolkata, India.

  • The organisation works to serve the poorest of the poor, including orphans, the sick, and the dying.

CONTRIBUTIONS

• Dedicated life to humanitarian service, promoting compassion, dignity, and care.

• Expanded Missionaries of Charity to over 130 countries.

• Inspired thousands of people worldwide to engage in social service.

AWARDS & HONOURS

• Nobel Peace Prize – 1979

• Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award) – 1980

• Canonised as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by the Catholic Church in 2016.

ENVIRONMENT

3. SUNDARBANS TIGER RESERVE

Current Context: The National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has approved the West Bengal government’s proposal to expand the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR). With this, STR has become the second-largest tiger reserve in India, after Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

ABOUT SUNDARBANS TIGER RESERVE (STR)

• Location: Coastal districts of West Bengal.

• Uniqueness: World’s only mangrove forest with a significant tiger population (shared with Bangladesh).

• Boundaries:

  • East – International boundary with Bangladesh (rivers Harinbhanga, Raimangal, Kalindi)

  • South – Bay of Bengal

  • West – River Matla

  • North-West – Rivers Bidya & Gomdi

• Status: National Park area is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and part of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.

DEFENCE

4. ADVANCED MEDIUM COMBAT AIRCRAFT (AMCA)

Current Context: India will jointly manufacture advanced jet engines for the AMCA programme with French aerospace major Safran.

ABOUT ADVANCED MEDIUM COMBAT AIRCRAFT (AMCA)

• Type: 5th generation, medium-weight stealth fighter jet.

• Developer: DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).

• Cost: Approx. ₹15,000 crore.

• Timeline:

  • Prototype – by 2028-29

  • Induction – by 2034-35

FEATURES (Fifth-generation fighter jet)

• Stealth technology

• Twin-engine powered

• Supercruise capability (sustained supersonic speed without afterburner)

• AI-enabled avionics

• AESA radar for long-range detection

ORGANISATION

5. ASIA-PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR BROADCASTING DEVELOPMENT (AIBD)

Current Context: At the 23rd General Conference in Thailand, India was elected as Chairman of the AIBD Executive Board.

ABOUT AIBD

• Founded: 1977 under UNESCO

• Mandate: Strengthening electronic media in Asia-Pacific

• Membership: 92 organisations from 45 countries

• India’s Role: Founding member; represented by Prasar Bharati (Ministry of I&B)

• Secretariat: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

RANKINGS

6. SMART CITY INDEX 2025

Current Context: The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) released the Smart City Index 2025, ranking the world’s smartest cities.

ABOUT SMART CITY INDEX

• Released by: International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Switzerland.

• Definition of Smart City (IMD): An urban setting that applies technology to enhance benefits and mitigate drawbacks of urbanisation for citizens.

• Ranking Parameters: Health and Safety, Mobility, Activities, Opportunities, Governance.

IMD TOP SMART CITIES (2025)

1. Zurich (Switzerland)

2. Oslo (Norway)

3. Geneva (Switzerland)

4. Dubai (UAE)

5. Abu Dhabi (UAE)

6. London (United Kingdom)

INDIAN CITIES RANKING (2025)

• Delhi – Rank 104

• Mumbai – Rank 106

• Hyderabad – Rank 109

• Bengaluru – Rank 110

APPOINTMENTS

7. ANISH DAYAL SINGH APPOINTED DEPUTY NSA

Current Context: Former CRPF chief Anish Dayal Singh has been appointed as the new Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) to PM Narendra Modi.

ABOUT ANISH DAYAL SINGH

• Batch / Cadre: 1988-batch IPS officer, Manipur cadre

• Born: 1964, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

• Training: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad

• Career Path:

  • Early service in Manipur – handled insurgency challenges.

  • Intelligence Bureau (IB) – worked in strategic intelligence roles.

  • Director General, CRPF – strengthened internal security and counter-insurgency.

  • Deputy NSA – appointed in 2025, reporting directly to NSA Ajit Doval.

SPORTS

8. AISHWARY PRATAP SINGH TOMAR WINS GOLD

Current Context: Indian shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won gold at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

EVENT DETAILS

• Event: Men’s 50m Rifle 3-Position

• Venue: Shymkent, Kazakhstan

• Competition: 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025

RESULTS

• Gold: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (India) – 462.5 points

• Silver: Wenyu Zhao (China) – 462 points

• Bronze: Naoya Okada (Japan) – 445.8 points

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