16th September 2026

Explanation - It is a major irrigation and water-supply project located in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. It is built across the Kandaleru River, a tributary of the Pennar (Penna) Key Construction Features — Built using earthen materials (soil and rocks), making it one of the largest earthen dams in India. It is one of the longest reservoirs in the country. It connects with the Somasila Reservoir, ensuring smooth water distribution. It is designed to handle high water pressure, ensuring long-term durability. It has a substantial storage capacity, with a maximum capacity of 68 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) of water. This capacity ensures a reliable supply for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes. It also helps in flood control during the monsoon season by regulating the flow of the Kandaleru River. This project is a key component of the Telugu Ganga project, which facilitates the supply of drinking water to Chennai city from the Srisailam Reservoir on the Krishna River. The Telugu Ganga Project was approved in 1977, after an agreement between Tamil Nadu and the states from where the Krishna River flows i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. A network of canals and tunnels transports water to irrigation lands and Chennai (Kandaleru–Poondi canal).

Explanation - SARAL AI converts research published in its journals into engaging and accessible videos. It is an AI-based platform that demystifies and converts complex research publications and patents into podcasts, short videos, posters, business briefs. It is an initiative of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) New Delhi. Features — Researchers upload research papers via arXiv links or direct LaTeX files. The system automatically extracts content and figures.

AI Script Generation: System generates engaging presentation scripts using advanced AI models like Gemini and GPT for educational content. Voice Synthesis: System converts scripts to natural-sounding audio narration with support for multiple Indian languages including Hindi. Video Production: System automatically creates professional presentation videos combining slides, narration, and visual elements. The video can be shared on social media Multilingual Support: It presentations and rich social media content in 18 Indian languages, enabling wider dissemination of scientific knowledge across the country.

Explanation - The Paniya (Paniyan) tribe is one of the major Scheduled Tribes of Kerala. They are predominantly found in Wayanad and also in parts of the Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts of Kerala. Some are found in the Gudalur and Pandalur areas of the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu and in the southern part of the Kodagu District of Karnataka. The Paniya community is the largest single scheduled tribe population in Kerala. The word "Paniyan" is derived from "pani" which is a Malayalam word, meaning work. The Paniya speak the Paniya language, which belongs to the Dravidian family, closely related to Malayalam. They have developed a unique style of making their houses. A Paniyan village comprises rows of huts all constructed from bamboo with thatched roofs. These houses of Paniyan tribes are either single- or double-storied. The Paniyas worship a deity called Kali and banyan tree. They hesitate to cut banyan trees and believe that if anyone attempts to cut the tree, they will fall sick.

Explanation - The Paniya (Paniyan) tribe is one of the major Scheduled Tribes of Kerala. They are predominantly found in Wayanad and also in parts of the Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts of Kerala. Some are found in the Gudalur and Pandalur areas of the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu and in the southern part of the Kodagu District of Karnataka. The Paniya community is the largest single scheduled tribe population in Kerala. The word "Paniyan" is derived from "pani" which is a Malayalam word, meaning work. The Paniya speak the Paniya language, which belongs to the Dravidian family, closely related to Malayalam. They have developed a unique style of making their houses. A Paniyan village comprises rows of huts all constructed from bamboo with thatched roofs. These houses of Paniyan tribes are either single- or double-storied. The Paniyas worship a deity called Kali and banyan tree. They hesitate to cut banyan trees and believe that if anyone attempts to cut the tree, they will fall sick.

Explanation - Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections is aimed at accelerating the growth of active domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections across the country. It enables households to access clean, safe and affordable cooking gas through piped supply. It provides incentives to City Gas Distribution (CGD) network entities for converting unbilled connections into active, billed connections. It was launched in 2026, and seeks to encourage City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities to connect more households to piped natural gas. CGD networks are developed by entities authorised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). Nodal ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Working — The scheme will be implemented in two tranches over a six-month period. A minimum number of domestic connections have been fixed for every Geographical Area, with eligible CGD entities required to add billed domestic connections above the prescribed threshold during the performance period. For each such incremental connection, the entity earns an additional allocation of 200 Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) of gas.