PRELIMS CA 25 SEPT 2026

DAILY PRELIMS CA — 25 SEPT 2026 

𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Subject: Environment

• 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵: The UNEP-led Cool Coalition launched the inaugural Cool Leaders Award at the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly 2026 in Singapore.
• 𝗡𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Administered by the 𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗣-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 | Jointly managed with Sustainable Energy for All (𝗦𝗘𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗔𝗟𝗟).
• 𝗔𝗶𝗺: Recognises outstanding leadership, technology innovation, and scalable policies in 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 and climate resilience.
• 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲: Originally established at 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝟮𝟴 | Promotes passive cooling designs and ultra-efficient cooling systems.
• 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀: Passive cooling methods can potentially lower peak urban temperatures by up to 𝟱°𝗖.
• 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Global cooling appliances are expected to triple, reaching 𝟱.𝟲 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 units by 𝟮𝟬𝟱𝟬.
• 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Complements the Global Heat Resilience Roadmap + GEF-backed 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲.
• 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 (passive urban planning) | 𝗨𝗔𝗘 (district cooling infrastructure) | 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘇𝗵𝘂 (Zero Carbon Source AC).

𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗔

Subject: Misc

• 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘅𝘁: Indian stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived in France to participate in the bilateral maritime exercise.
• 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Bilateral 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗹 exercise | Conducted between Indian Navy and French Navy (Marine Nationale).
• 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 edition of the bilateral exercise.
• 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Hosted at Toulon Naval Base on the 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗻 coast of France.
• 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁: Guided-missile stealth frigate 𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗹.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗰𝗶𝗱 (𝗣𝗟𝗔) 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀

Subject: Environment

• 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵: Union Minister launched the commercial development of Polylactic Acid (PLA) bioplastics under the BioE3 policy framework.
• 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Bio-based, compostable 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 | Derived from the polymerization of lactic acid.
• 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀: Produced by fermenting plant-derived sugars from 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲, corn starch, or cassava.
• 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Breaks down into water, CO₂, and biomass | Requires specific 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 conditions to decompose.
• 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: A 100-tonne-per-annum (TPA) plant is proposed at 𝗞𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗵𝗶, 𝗨𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵 to validate production.
• 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Estimated to lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 𝟲𝟬–𝟳𝟬% compared to fossil plastics.
• 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: Developed under India's 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗘𝟯 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 framework focusing on sustainable biomanufacturing.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿

Subject: Polity

• 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵: Opposition parties announced plans to submit notices of motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
• 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀: Article 324(5) equates CEC removal to a 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 | Other ECs removed only on CEC recommendation.
• 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹: Article 124(4) restricts removal grounds strictly to 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 or incapacity.
• 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 regulates procedure + Section 11(2) of 𝗖𝗘𝗖 𝗔𝗰𝘁, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 mirrors SC judge terms.
• 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Requires signatures of minimum 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗣𝘀 in Lok Sabha or 𝟱𝟬 𝗠𝗣𝘀 in Rajya Sabha.
• 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman) has 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 power to admit or reject the motion.
• 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲: Three-member panel comprising one 𝗦𝗖 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲, one HC Chief Justice, and one distinguished jurist.
• 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱: Special majority in both Houses | Majority of 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 + 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 present and voting.
• 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: President issues the removal order after address is presented by Parliament in the 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
• 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱: No Chief Election Commissioner has 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 through this legislative process.

𝗨𝗡 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀

Subject: IR

• 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵: Japan called for the immediate deletion of enemy state clauses from the United Nations Charter at the UN General Assembly.
• 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟱𝟯(𝟮)): Defines an enemy state as any state that was an enemy of any signatory during 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗜𝗜.
• 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Specifically targets Axis powers including 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻, 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆, 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.
• 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟱𝟯(𝟭): Allows regional enforcement actions against enemy states without prior 𝗨𝗡 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 authorization.
• 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟳: Permits actions taken or authorized by Allied governments against 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 as a result of World War II.
• 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟳𝟳(𝟭)(𝗯): Governs the application of the UN 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 system to territories detached from enemy states.
• 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 (𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟴): Requires a two-thirds UNGA vote + ratification by two-thirds of members including all 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗖 members.
• 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: Declared obsolete by UNGA in 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟱 | Remains in Charter text due to high amendment hurdles.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

Subject: Geography

• 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘁: A pod of pilot whales strayed into the shallow tidal waters of the River Thames and was guided back to sea.
• 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: Longest river entirely within 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 | Second-longest in the United Kingdom after the River Severn.
• 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻: Rises at Thames Head in the 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 + Tributary headwater is River Churn.
• 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲: Flows eastward through Oxford, Reading, Windsor, and London | Drains into the 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗮.
• 𝗧𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁: Lower course is tidal starting downstream from 𝗧𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻.
• 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Protected by the 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 to safeguard London against tidal flooding and storm surges.
• 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Includes Windrush, Cherwell, Kennet, Colne, Wey, Lea, and 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘆 which joins the estuary.