Prelims Current Affairs includes Santhali Language, Rabies, Vitamin C, Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme, Anu Garg Appointed Odisha’s First Woman Chief Secretary, PV Sindhu Elected Chair of BWF Athletes’ Commission, Param Rudra Supercomputer, Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar – Sustainability Innovation.

POLITY

1. SANTHALI LANGUAGE

Current Context: The President of India released the Constitution of India in the Santhali language at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

ABOUT SANTHALI LANGUAGE

• Constitutional Status: Included in the Eighth Schedule through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
• Nature: One of the most ancient living languages of India.
• Speakers: Mainly spoken by the Santhal tribal community.
• Geographical Spread: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar; also spoken in Nepal and Bangladesh.
• Language Family: Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family.
• Linguistic Features: Agglutinative language and tonal usage.
• Related Languages: Ho, Mundari, Korku.

HEALTH & DISEASE

2. RABIES

Current Context: A study published in One Health reported that India accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s annual rabies deaths.

ABOUT RABIES

• Nature: Vaccine-preventable, zoonotic viral disease.
• Causative Agent: Rabies virus.
• Affected System: Central nervous system.
• Hosts: Dogs, cats, livestock, wildlife, humans.
• Category: Neglected tropical disease.

TRANSMISSION
Spread through saliva via bites, scratches, or contact with mucous membranes.

CLINICAL FORMS

• Furious Rabies: Hyperactivity, hallucinations.
• Paralytic Rabies: Paralysis, coma.

KEY FACTS

• Incubation period ranges from one week to one year.
• Once symptoms appear, rabies is fatal in 100% cases.

HEALTH

3. VITAMIN C

Current Context: Research suggests that high doses of vitamin C may protect lungs from damage caused by fine air particles.

ABOUT VITAMIN C

• Also Known As: Ascorbic acid.
• Type: Water-soluble vitamin.
• Nature: Not produced or stored in the body.

FUNCTIONS

• Formation of collagen for skin, blood vessels, connective tissue.
• Wound healing and tissue repair.
• Aids iron absorption.
• Acts as a powerful antioxidant.
• Supports hormone and neurotransmitter production.

SOURCES

• Citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, green vegetables.
• Heat-sensitive; raw foods retain higher vitamin content.

DEFICIENCY

• Leads to scurvy.
• Symptoms include anemia, fatigue, bleeding gums, tooth loss.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

4. TSUNAMI READY RECOGNITION PROGRAMME

Current Context: India is expected to have over 100 tsunami-ready villages under this programme.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

• Developed By: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
• Nature: International community-based recognition programme.
• Objective: Build resilient coastal communities against tsunami hazards.

METHODOLOGY

• Communities must fulfil 12 indicators covering assessment, preparedness, and response.
• Recognition provided as “Tsunami Ready”.

APPONTMENT

5. ANU GARG APPOINTED ODISHA’S FIRST WOMAN CHIEF SECRETARY

Current Context: Senior IAS officer Anu Garg appointed as Odisha’s first woman Chief Secretary from 1 January 2026.

ABOUT ANU GARG

• Service: Indian Administrative Service.
• Cadre: Odisha.
• Batch: 1991.
• Previous Role: Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary.
• Significance: First woman to hold the post in Odisha.

6. PV SINDHU ELECTED CHAIR OF BWF ATHLETES’ COMMISSION

Current Context: PV Sindhu elected Chair of the Badminton World Federation Athletes’ Commission for 2026–2029.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Organisation: Badminton World Federation.
• Tenure: 2026–2029.
• Achievement: Strengthens athlete representation in global badminton governance.
• Profile: Two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7. PARAM RUDRA SUPERCOMPUTER

Current Context: IIT Patna inaugurated Bihar’s first supercomputer, Param Rudra, under the National Supercomputing Mission.

ABOUT PARAM RUDRA

• Location: IIT Patna, Bihar.
• Significance: First supercomputer in Bihar.
• Inaugurated By: Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT.

NATIONAL SUPERCOMPUTING MISSION

• Strengthens India’s research and innovation ecosystem.
• Uses indigenous hardware, software, and technologies.

APPLICATION AREAS

• Artificial intelligence and data science.
• Computational material science.
• Fluid mechanics and nano-bio interfaces.
• Quantum computing and astrophysics.

PLACE IN NEWS

8. WORLD’S LONGEST EXPRESSWAY TUNNEL – TIANSHAN SHENGLI TUNNEL

Current Context: China opened the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

ABOUT TIANSHAN SHENGLI TUNNEL

• Length: 22.13 km (world’s longest expressway tunnel).
• Location: Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China.
• Opened On: 27 December 2025.
• Part Of: G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway.
• Travel Impact: Reduces travel time to ~20 minutes.

KEY FEATURES

• Maximum burial depth: 1,112 metres.
• Crosses 16 geological fault zones.
• Built using indigenous hard-rock Tunnel Boring Machine.
• Operable in extreme cold and high-altitude conditions.

AWARDS

9. PRADHAN MANTRI RASHTRIYA BAL PURASKAR – SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION

Current Context: Aishi Prisha Borah (14) from Jorhat, Assam, received the award for sustainability-based scientific innovation.

ABOUT THE AWARDEE

• Name: Aishi Prisha Borah.
• Age: 14 years.
• Field: Science and technology with focus on sustainability.

KEY INNOVATIONS

• Natural farming techniques to reduce chemical inputs.
• Newspaper mulching to improve soil health.
• Machine converting waste newspapers into pencils.
• Promotion of waste-to-wealth and circular economy.

IMPORTANT FACTS

• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar: Highest civilian award for children in India.
• INSPIRE MANAK: Supports student-led innovation.
• Natural Farming: Minimises chemical use.

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