Prelims Current Affairs includes Piton De La Fournaise Volcano , Yuva Ai For All Initiative, African Union (Au), Startup India Fund Of Funds 2.0, Cbdc-Based Digital Food Coupons Pilot, Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel Project, Winter Olympics 2026 & National Cow Culture Museum

GEOGRAPHY

1. PITON DE LA FOURNAISE VOLCANO

Current Context : The Piton de la Fournaise volcano on Réunion Island erupted for the second time this year, reaffirming its status as one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

ABOUT PITON DE LA FOURNAISE

• Location: Situated on the east-southeastern end of the French island La Réunion in the western Indian Ocean
• Type: Massive basaltic shield volcano
• Geological Setting:
  • Built on the flank of the older Piton des Neiges volcano
  • Early volcanic activity was basaltic, later shifting to differentiated alkaline lavas
• Activity Status:
• Among the most active volcanoes in the world
• Characterised by frequent but short-lived eruptions
• Age: Approximately 500,000 years old
• Global Recognition: Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010

ABOUT SHIELD VOLCANO

• Definition: Broad volcanoes formed primarily by fluid basaltic lava flows
• Key Characteristics:
  • Largest volcano type on Earth
  • Gentle slopes, unlike steep composite volcanoes
  • Lava is predominantly basaltic and low viscosity
• Classic Examples: Hawaiian Volcanoes (most famous global examples)

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

2. YUVA AI FOR ALL INITIATIVE

Current Context : The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched “Kaushal Rath” under the National Artificial Intelligence Literacy Programme “Yuva AI for All.”

ABOUT YUVA AI FOR ALL

• Launched By: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
• Mission Framework: Part of the IndiaAI Mission
• Nature of Programme:
  • First-of-its-kind free Artificial Intelligence literacy course
  • Designed especially for youth, students, and professionals
• Course Structure:
  • 5-hour self-paced programme
  • Covers foundational Artificial Intelligence concepts
• Aim: Empower 1 crore citizens with basic Artificial Intelligence skills
• Accessibility:
  • Available on FutureSkills Prime
  • Hosted on iGOT Karmayogi
  • Integrated with major education platforms
• Certification: Government of India certificate upon completion

ORGANISATION

3. AFRICAN UNION (AU)

Current Context:  The African Union hosted its annual summit in Ethiopia, bringing together leaders from across the continent.

ABOUT AFRICAN UNION

• Nature: Continental intergovernmental organisation
• Members: 55 African countries
• Established: 2002
• Predecessor: Replaced the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Primary Objective:
  • Promote unity and cooperation
  • Advance political and economic integration
  • Enhance Africa’s global voice

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

4. STARTUP INDIA FUND OF FUNDS 2.0

Current Context : The Union Cabinet approved the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, marking a major policy push for innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

ABOUT STARTUP INDIA FUND OF FUNDS 2.0

• Launched Under: Startup India Initiative
• Objective:
  • Strengthen India’s startup financing ecosystem
  • Mobilise long-term domestic capital
• Financial Outlay: Rupees 10,000 crore corpus
• Policy Vision:
  • Support high-risk, high-impact innovation sectors
  • Expand venture capital reach beyond metros

KEY FEATURES

• Segmented Funding Strategy:
  • Deep technology
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Innovation-intensive sectors
• Early-Stage Support: Reduces failure due to capital shortages
• National Coverage: Encourages investment in emerging startup hubs
• Strategic Significance:
  • Reduces dependence on foreign venture capital
  • Boosts self-reliance & technology leadership

ECONOMY

5. CBDC-BASED DIGITAL FOOD COUPONS PILOT

Current Context : The Union Government has launched a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Digital Food Coupons Pilot in the Public Distribution System (PDS) to enhance transparency, efficiency, and beneficiary empowerment.

ABOUT THE PILOT PROJECT

• Digital Mechanism:
  • A programmable Digital Rupee (e₹) is credited directly into beneficiaries’ digital wallets
  • Funds are restricted for purchasing entitled foodgrains only
• Usage Mode:
  • Can be redeemed at Fair Price Shops (FPS)
  • Transactions executed via QR codes / digital coupon codes
• Key Benefits:
  • Enables real-time, secure, and traceable transactions
  • Eliminates repeated biometric authentication
  • Reduces leakages and diversion of subsidies
  • Strengthens last-mile delivery

WHAT IS CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY (CBDC)?

• Definition: Digital form of fiat currency issued and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Legal Status:
  • Recognised as legal tender
  • Liability of the central bank under Section 26 of RBI Act, 1934
• Denomination: Issued in the same denominations as physical currency
• Launch in India:
  • Introduced in pilot mode in December 2022
  • Variants: Digital Rupee – Wholesale (e₹-W) and Digital Rupee – Retail (e₹-R)

ECONOMY

6. TWIN TUBE ROAD-CUM-RAIL TUNNEL PROJECT

Current Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the construction of India’s first underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project to improve connectivity in the North-East.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Location: Under the Brahmaputra River, Assam
• Project Length: 33.7 kilometres
• Tunnel Section:
  • 79-kilometre twin tube tunnel beneath the river
• Connectivity:
  • Links Gohpur (National Highway-15) and Numaligarh (National Highway-715)
• Infrastructure Features:
  • Four-lane access-controlled Greenfield project
  • Enhances strategic and economic connectivity

WHAT IS EPC MODE?

• Full Form: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction
• Meaning:
  • Contractor responsible for design, material procurement, and construction
  • Commonly used for large infrastructure projects

SPORTS

7. WINTER OLYMPICS 2026

Current Context: The Winter Olympics 2026 at Milano Cortina witnessed a historic milestone as Brazil won its first-ever Winter Games medal.

LUCAS PINHEIRO BRAATHEN’S HISTORIC GOLD

• Achievement: Won gold medal in Giant Slalom
• Historic Significance:
  • Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympics medal
  • First medal by a South American nation
• Performance Details:
  • Combined time: 2 minutes 25 seconds
  • Defeated Marco Odermatt (Switzerland)

WHAT IS GIANT SLALOM?

• Sport Type: Alpine skiing discipline
• Key Features:
  • Widely spaced gates
  • Requires speed, precision, and control
  • Final result based on two combined runs

MEDAL STANDINGS (LATEST UPDATE)

• Norway: 20 medals (10 gold)
• Italy: 18 medals
• United States: 17 medals

INDIA’S PARTICIPATION

• Arif Mohammad Khan: Competing in Slalom Event
• Stanzin Lundup: Finished 104th in Men’s 10 km Cross-Country Race

MISCELLANEOUS

8. NATIONAL COW CULTURE MUSEUM

Current Context : India will establish its first National Cow Culture Museum in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

• Location: Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University, Mathura
• Objective:
  • Present cattle’s cultural, economic, and scientific importance
  • Promote balanced understanding beyond religious symbolism
• WHY IS THE MUSEUM BEING ESTABLISHED?
• Showcase cattle’s role in Indian civilisation and rural economy
• Promote scientific awareness and conservation practices
• Highlight contributions to agriculture and sustainability
• Cultural Dimension: Deep association with Indian traditions, especially the Braj region

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