Prelims Current Affairs includes International Youth Day, World Elephant Day, Inida’s First Intelligent Village, Cancer AI Technology, Sea of Galilee turn Red, Numbeo Safety Index, SHINE Initiative and Special Development Package.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

• Observed annually on 12 August

• Purpose: To raise awareness about youth-related issues, celebrate their role as partners in global society, and advocate for policies that empower young people.

• 2025 Theme: “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”.

• Origins: The idea was proposed at the first World Youth Forum in 1991 and the UN General Assembly officially designated the date via Resolution 54/120 on 17 December 1999. The first observance was 12 August 2000.

2. WORLD ELEPHANT DAY

• Observed every year on 12 August.

• Purpose: To raise awareness about the urgent threats faced by African and Asian elephants, and to promote their protection in both wild and captive environments.

• Origins: Co-founded on 12 August 2012 by Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims and Thailand’s Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, under royal patronage.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. INDIA’S FIRST SMART INTELLIGENT VILLAGE – SATNAVRI

Current Context: Satnavri village in rural Nagpur, Maharashtra has been selected under a state-backed pilot project to become India’s first ‘Smart Intelligent Village’, integrating advanced technology into agriculture, education, healthcare, governance, and finance.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Technology in Agriculture:

  • Drone-assisted farming, smart irrigation, and soil sensors.

  • Real-time alerts on soil health, weather, and harvest timings via mobile apps.

  • Crop dashboards for market forecasts and better planning.

  • Data-driven farming to optimise resources and boost yields.

• Digital Education & Health Services:

  • AI-integrated digital books and remote learning platforms.

  • Smart Anganwadi centres for early education.

  • E-health cards and telemedicine links to Government Medical College.

  • Mobile clinics connected with digital health systems.

• Governance & Infrastructure:

  • Gram panchayat equipped with WiFi and digital governance tools.

  • Real-time monitoring of water quality, irrigation, and civic services.

  • Optical fibre connectivity installed.

  • Regular reviews ensure smooth implementation and community participation.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. CANCER AI & TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE (CATCH) GRANT PROGRAM

Current Context: The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) to boost AI-based cancer care solutions.

ABOUT CATCH PROGRAM

• Purpose: To fast-track validation and deployment of AI solutions across the cancer care continuum in India.

• Collaboration: Joint innovation grant with the National Cancer Grid (NCG).

• Support Provided:

  • Milestone-based pilot funding up to ₹50 lakhs.

  • Mentorship support.

  • Access to clinical validation sites.

  • Opportunity to scale across the NCG network and IndiaAI-supported public channels.

PLACE IN NEWS

5. SEA OF GALILEE TURNS RED – ISRAEL

Current Context: The Sea of Galilee, Israel’s largest freshwater lake, recently displayed an unusual red hue over several days due to a natural algal bloom.

ABOUT THE RED COLOURATION

• Cause: Bloom of green algae Botryococcus braunii, which produces red carotenoid pigments under sunlight.

• Water remains safe for humans.

• Event monitored by Israel’s Water Ministry for ecosystem health.

ABOUT SEA OF GALILEE

• Location: Northeastern Israel, near the Golan Heights and Galilee region.

• Other Names: Lake Kinneret, Lake Tiberias, Lake of Gennesaret (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret; Arabic: Buḥayrat Ṭabarīyā).

• Elevation: 209–215 meters (686–705 feet) below sea level — lowest freshwater lake in the world.

• Hydrology:

  • Main inflow and outflow: Jordan River

  • Other sources: Underground springs

REPORT/INDEX

6. NUMBEO SAFETY INDEX

Current Context: India ranked 67th globally in the mid-2025 Numbeo Safety Index with a score of 55.8.

Relevant Data:

SAFEST CITIES IN INDIA

• Mangalore – Safety Index 74.2 (49th globally).

• Other top cities: Vadodara (69.2), Ahmedabad (68.2), Surat (66.6), Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai.

• Reasons: Low crime, strong civic infrastructure, good governance.

LEAST SAFE CITIES IN INDIA

• New Delhi – Crime Index 59.03.

• Ghaziabad – 58.44.

• Noida – 55.1.

• Issues: Violent crimes, harassment, property crime, women’s safety concerns.

GLOBAL SAFETY LEADERS

• Abu Dhabi – Score 88.8 (1st for ninth year).

• Others: Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Taipei.

• UAE ranks 2nd globally as a country.

ABOUT NUMBEO SAFETY INDEX

• The Numbeo Safety Index is a global crowd-sourced rating system that measures the perceived safety of cities and countries based on public surveys.

• It reflects how safe residents and visitors feel in their local areas.

• Data Source: Crowdsourced surveys from residents and visitors.

• Scale: 0–100 points; higher score indicates higher perceived safety.

Survey coverage

• Personal Safety Risks: Mugging, robbery, car theft, physical attack, harassment.

• Discrimination Risks: Based on ethnicity, skin color, gender, or religion.

• Property Crimes: Vandalism, burglary, theft.

• Violent Crimes: Assault, homicide.

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

7. S.H.I.N.E. INITIATIVE – ICMR & DHR

Current Context: The Department of Health Research and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) organised a nationwide S.H.I.N.E. Initiative Open Day for students.

ABOUT S.H.I.N.E.

• Full Form: Science, Health and Innovation for Nextgen Explorers.

• Aim: Ignite scientific curiosity, foster innovation, inspire careers in health research.

• Target Group: Students of grades 9–12.

POLITY

8. SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PACKAGES (SDPs) – ASSAM & TRIPURA

Current Context: The Union Cabinet approved four new components under SDPs for Assam and Tripura.

ABOUT SDPs

• Type: Central Sector Scheme.

• Purpose:

  • Improve socio-economic conditions of vulnerable and marginalised groups.

  • Focus on Adivasi, Dimasa, ULFA areas in Assam and tribal communities in Tripura.

  • Boost jobs, healthcare, education, skills, and women/youth livelihoods.

  • Promote tourism for additional employment.

• Background: Builds on MoS-based packages for Bodo and Karbi groups that have enhanced peace-building in the Northeast.

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