Prelims Current Affairs includes World Cancer Day, Saksham 2026 Campaign, Neophyteid App, Pennaiyar River, Rafah Border , 68th Grammy Awards, Pilloo AI, Craafoord Prize 2026

IMPORTANT DAY 

1. WORLD CANCER DAY

Observed every year on 4 February

Aim : to raise awareness about cancer, promote prevention, early detection, and improve access to treatment and care.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

2. SAKSHAM 2026 CAMPAIGN

Current Context: The oil industry has recently inaugurated SAKSHAM 2026 to promote awareness about conservation of national energy resources.

ABOUT SAKSHAM

• Full Form: Samrakshan Kshamatha Mahotsav
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• Nature: Annual national awareness campaign
• Objective: Promote fuel conservation and sustainable energy practices
• Implementation: Organised by oil and gas Public Sector Undertakings with support from local authorities, educational institutions, industries, and stakeholders

SAKSHAM 2026

• Duration: 2 February to 16 February 2026 (Fortnight-long campaign)
• Theme: “Conserve Oil and Gas, Go Green” (Tel aur Gas Bachao, Harshit Urja Apnao)
• Target Groups: School children, youth, LPG users, fleet operators, farmers, and industry professionals
• Activities: Debates, wall paintings, cyclothons, walkathons, workshops, seminars, and awareness programmes

E-GOVERNANCE

3. NEOPHYTEID APP

Current Context: The Chief Minister of Kerala recently launched the NeophyteID App.

ABOUT NEOPHYTEID APP

• Nature: AI-powered mobile application
• Purpose: Identification and monitoring of invasive plant species across Kerala
• Developed By: Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS)
• Target Users: Local communities, students, ecologists, and researchers

KEY FEATURES

• Technology Used: YOLOv11 machine learning model
• Functions: Image recognition and geospatial tracking of invasive plants
• Output: Real-time distribution maps aiding conservation and biodiversity management
• Languages: English and Malayalam

GEOGRAPHY

4. PENNAIYAR RIVER

Current Context: The Supreme Court directed the Centre to constitute a tribunal to adjudicate the Tamil Nadu–Karnataka Pennaiyar River water dispute.

ABOUT PENNAIYAR RIVER

• Also Known As: South Pennar, Dakshina Pinakini (Kannada), Thenpennai / Ponnaiyar (Tamil)
• Origin: Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka
• Course: Flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before draining into the Bay of Bengal at Cuddalore
• Length: 497 km (Second longest river in Tamil Nadu)
• Basin Type: Second largest interstate east-flowing river basin

TRIBUTARIES & FEATURES

• Major Tributaries: Chinnar, Markanda, Vaniar, Pamban
• Reservoirs: Krishnagiri and Sathanur
• Use: Extensively dammed for irrigation, especially in Tamil Nadu

PENNAIYAR RIVER DISPUTE

• States Involved: Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
• Core Issue: Construction of check dams and diversion structures by Karnataka
• Concern: Reduced water flow affecting irrigation and drinking water needs in Tamil Nadu

PLACE IN NEWS

5. RAFAH BORDER

Current Context: Israel recently reopened Gaza’s Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt.

ABOUT RAFAH BORDER CROSSING

• Location: Southernmost exit point of Gaza Strip
• Bordering Region: Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula
• Control: Egypt

OTHER GAZA BORDER CROSSINGS

• Erez Crossing: Northern Gaza – movement of people into Israel
• Kerem Shalom: Southern Gaza – commercial goods crossing

KEY FACTS ABOUT SINAI PENINSULA

• Location: Northeastern Egypt
• Geographical Role: Land bridge between Asia and Africa
• Boundaries:
• North – Mediterranean Sea
• East – Israel and Gaza Strip
• West – Suez Canal
• South – Red Sea
• Southeast – Gulf of Aqaba

AWARDS

6. 68TH GRAMMY AWARDS

Current Context: Recently, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama won his first-ever Grammy Award at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Category: Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording
• Winning Work: “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”
• Content: Spoken-word album combining recorded teachings with contemporary and classical music

SIGNIFICANCE

• Marks a rare cultural milestone in the Dalai Lama’s global journey
• Comes nearly four decades after his Nobel Peace Prize
• Highlights the global reach of spiritual and philosophical narratives through modern media

SCIENCE AND TECH

7. PILLOO AI

Current Context: Recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched Pilloo AI, a voice-based billing and accounting application aimed at simplifying financial management for small businesses and first-time entrepreneurs.

ABOUT PILLOO AI

• Nature: It is an AI-powered, voice-based billing and accounting application.
• Objective: It is designed to simplify accounting, billing, and financial record-keeping for micro and small enterprises.
• Target Users: It is especially useful for shopkeepers, micro and small businesses, and first-time entrepreneurs who lack formal accounting knowledge.
• Governance Vision: The initiative aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s vision of using digital technology to improve ease of doing business and transparency.

KEY FEATURES OF PILLOO AI

• Voice-Based Operation: Users can create invoices, record sales and payments, generate balance sheets, and track receivables and payables simply by speaking.
• Language Support: The app supports five Indian languages, enabling use in native languages.
• Automation: It allows automated data entry by uploading bills and bank statements.
• AI-Based Processing: Purchase entries and bank transactions are processed instantly using AI-based data extraction.
• Impact: It significantly reduces manual effort, errors, and time spent on bookkeeping.

AWARDS

8. CRAAFOORD PRIZE 2026

Current Context: Indian-origin climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan has been awarded the Crafoord Prize 2026, often referred to as the “Nobel of Geosciences”, for his transformative contributions to climate science.

ABOUT THE CRAFOORD PRIZE

• Nature: It is an international scientific award that recognises outstanding research in fields not covered by the Nobel Prizes.
• Significance: It is widely regarded as equivalent to the Nobel Prize in geosciences and related disciplines.
• Focus: It honours lifetime contributions that have significantly advanced scientific understanding and influenced society.

ABOUT VEERABHADRAN RAMANATHAN

• Profession: He is an Indian-origin atmospheric and climate scientist.
• Education: He studied engineering in Bengaluru and later pursued higher education in the United States.
• Career: Over a career spanning five decades, he worked at leading global research institutions and reshaped global climate science.
• Core Contribution: His research established that global warming is driven not only by carbon dioxide but by multiple heat-trapping gases acting together.

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