Prelims Current Affairs includes Christmas Day, Good Governance Day (India), Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, AILA – Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant, Shakti Scholars Young Research Fellowship, India’s Largest Circular Stone Labyrinth, Akash–NG Missile System, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. CHRISTMAS DAY

• Celebrated worldwide on 25 December.
• Aim: To commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Symbolises peace, love, and goodwill.

2. GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY (INDIA)

• Observed in India on 25 December.
• Aim: To mark the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY

• Established in 2014.
• Promotes awareness about accountability, transparency, and effective governance.
• Honours the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

AWARDS

3. RASHTRIYA VIGYAN PURASKAR 2025

Current Context: The President of India conferred the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

ABOUT RASHTRIYA VIGYAN PURASKAR

• Nature: India’s highest civilian recognition in science and technology.
• Edition: 2025 marked the second edition of the awards.
• Structure: Modelled on the Padma Awards framework.
• Domains Covered:
  1. Physics
  2. Chemistry
  3. Medicine
  4. Engineering
  5. Agriculture
  6. Atomic Energy
  7. Space Science

AWARD CATEGORIES

• Vigyan Ratna – Lifetime achievement
• Vigyan Shri – Distinguished contribution
• Vigyan Yuva – Young scientists
• Vigyan Team – Team-based scientific excellence

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Vigyan Ratna awarded posthumously to Jayant Vishnu Narlikar.
• Vigyan Shri awarded to eight scientists.
• Vigyan Yuva honoured fourteen young researchers.
• Vigyan Team Award given to the CSIR-led Aroma Mission team.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. AILA – ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT LAB ASSISTANT

Current Context: Researchers at IIT Delhi developed AILA, an artificial intelligence agent capable of independently conducting scientific experiments.

ABOUT AILA

• Nature: AI-based autonomous lab assistant.
• Developed By: IIT Delhi in collaboration with scientists from Denmark and Germany.
• Capability: Runs experiments, analyses data, and takes real-time decisions.

KEY FEATURES

• Operates scientific instruments like Atomic Force Microscope.
• Reduces experiment optimisation time from 24 hours to 7–10 minutes.
• Automates the entire scientific workflow including coding, data generation, and interpretation.
• Performs experiments similar to a trained human scientist.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

5. SHAKTI SCHOLARS YOUNG RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Current Context: The National Commission for Women launched the SHAKTI Scholars Young Research Fellowship.

ABOUT SHAKTI SCHOLARS

• Nature: Research fellowship on women-centric policy issues.
• Duration: Six months.
• Implementing Body: National Commission for Women.

OBJECTIVES

• Promote multidisciplinary research on women’s issues.
• Support policy-oriented studies for gender equality and empowerment.
• Strengthen evidence-based inputs for women-centric governance.

KEY DETAILS

• Research Areas:
  1. Women’s safety
  2. Gender-based violence
  3. Legal rights
  4. Cyber safety
  5. POSH implementation
• Eligibility: Indian citizens aged 21–30 years with at least a graduate degree.
• Financial Support: Research grant of ₹1 lakh.

HISTORY

6. INDIA’S LARGEST CIRCULAR STONE LABYRINTH

Current Context: Archaeologists discovered India’s largest circular stone labyrinth in the Boramani grasslands, Solapur district, Maharashtra.

ABOUT THE LABYRINTH

• Structure: 15 concentric stone circles with a central spiral.
• Size: Approximately 50 feet × 50 feet.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Dates back nearly 2,000 years to the Satavahana period.
• Linked to Indo-Roman trade connections.
• Design resembles Mediterranean labyrinths and the Chakravyuh concept.
• Surpasses earlier Indian circular labyrinths in complexity.

LABYRINTH VS MAZE

• Labyrinths have a single, non-branching path to the centre.
• Mazes have multiple paths and decision points.
• Labyrinths symbolise ritual, meditation, and spiritual journeys.

DEFENCE

7. AKASH–NG MISSILE SYSTEM

Current Context: DRDO successfully completed user evaluation trials of the Akash–NG missile system.

ABOUT AKASH–NG

• Type: Next-generation surface-to-air missile system.
• Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• Manufacturer: Bharat Dynamics Limited.
• Role: Protects vulnerable areas from aerial threats.

KEY FEATURES

• Weight around 350 kg, lighter than original Akash.
• Uses an indigenous radio-frequency seeker.
• Equipped with a dual-pulse solid rocket motor.
• Range up to 30 km and altitude up to 18 km.
• Can engage up to 10 targets simultaneously.

ENVIRONMENT

8. MUKUNDRA HILLS TIGER RESERVE

Current Context: The Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve administration launched a documentary titled “Enchanting Mukundra” to promote conservation and tourism.

ABOUT MUKUNDRA HILLS TIGER RESERVE

• Location: Rajasthan.
• Districts Covered: Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, and Chittorgarh.
• Landscape: Valley between Mukundra and Gargola hills.
• River: Located on the eastern bank of the Chambal River.

ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Forms a wildlife corridor between Ranthambore and Kuno National Park.
• Consists of dry deciduous forests.

FLORA

• Kala Dhok
• Khair
• Ber
• Kakan

FAUNA

• Leopard
• Sloth Bear
• Nilgai
• Chinkara
• Hyena
• Gharial
• Crocodile

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