India's Samriddh Gram Initiative Honoured with Prestigious UN WSIS Prize 2026

The Department of Telecommunications’ 'Samriddh Gram' initiative has won the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize 2026 in Geneva under the 'Enabling Environment' category.
The initiative, developed as part of the BharatNet Project, leverages a 'phygital' model to set up one-stop services hubs called Samriddh Kendras in rural regions.
The country's first Samriddh Kendra was inaugurated in Umri village, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, with subsequent implementations in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Aspirants should note that this global recognition highlights India's progress in digital public infrastructure (DPI), delivering vital services like telemedicine, online education, and financial inclusion to rural populations.

Key Facts / Static GK

WSIS Organizer: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
ITU Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Union Minister for Communications: Jyotiraditya M. Scindia

Q Practice Quiz — 16 July 2026

1. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the India-Australia Civil Nuclear Arrangement finalized recently?

A It was finalized during the 4th India-Australia Annual Summit in Sydney.

B It enables uranium exports under the World Nuclear Association (WNA) safeguards.

C It operationalizes the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014.

D The arrangement aims to achieve 150 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

E It primarily concerns the export of Thorium from India to Australia.

Explanation: The Administrative Arrangement finalized during the 3rd India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne operationalizes the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014. It enables Australian uranium exports under IAEA safeguards to support India's target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.

2. The traditional 'Dhokra tree of life' metal sculpture presented by PM Modi to his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon originates from which of the following regions?

A Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

B Bastar, Chhattisgarh

C Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

D Darjeeling, West Bengal

E Kutch, Gujarat

Explanation: PM Narendra Modi gifted a 'Dhokra tree of life' sculpture originating from Bastar in Chhattisgarh to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

3. Where was the first-ever 'Samriddh Kendra' under the award-winning Samriddh Gram Initiative inaugurated?

A Narakoduru, Andhra Pradesh

B Chaurawala, Uttar Pradesh

C Umri village, Madhya Pradesh

D Ari, Rajasthan

E Guna, Gujarat

Explanation: The first Samriddh Kendra under the Samriddh Gram Initiative was inaugurated in Umri village, located in the Guna district of Madhya Pradesh.

4. Which of the following is correct regarding the recent achievement of Mangaluru International Airport (MIA)?

A It is the first airport in Karnataka to receive Level 5 ACI accreditation.

B It is the fourth airport in India to receive Level 5 ACI accreditation.

C It is the first airport in the Adani Airport Holdings network to reach Level 5.

D Level 5 represents a certification exclusively for eco-friendly airport design.

E It has been ranked as the busiest regional airport in Asia-Pacific.

Explanation: MIA is the fourth airport in India to achieve Level 5 ACI accreditation (following Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru). Bengaluru was the first in Karnataka, making MIA the second in the state.

5. Which state has declared the year 2027 as the 'Year of Youth' to involve over 2 crore youngsters in policy-making and development?

A Uttar Pradesh

B Rajasthan

C Madhya Pradesh

D Gujarat

E Maharashtra

Explanation: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav declared 2027 as the 'Year of Youth' during the 'My Youth, My Pride' Conclave.

Take full quiz on PrepZen App →

Keep Learning with PrepZen

Get daily current affairs, live mock tests, mistake bank, vocab builder & more — all free on your phone.

Download Now — Free